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肩書を与える: The 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の Adventures of Ars鈩e Lupin
Author: Maurice Le Blanc
eBook No.: c00091.html
Language: English
Date first 地位，任命するd: September 2022
Most 最近の update: September 2022

This eBook was produced by: Colin Choat

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The 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の Adventures of Ars鈩e Lupin
Gentleman-夜盗，押し込み強盗

by

Maurice Le Blanc

Translated from the French by George Morehead

Contents

1. The 逮捕（する） of Ars鈩e Lupin
2. Ars鈩e Lupin in 刑務所，拘置所
3. The Escape of Ars鈩e Lupin
4. The Mysterious 旅行者
5. The Queen's Necklace
6. The Seven of Hearts
7. Madame Imbert's 安全な
8. The 黒人／ボイコット Pearl
9. Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late

1. The 逮捕（する） of Ars鈩e Lupin

It was a strange ending to a voyage that had 開始するd in a most auspicious manner. The transatlantic steamship "La Provence" was a swift and comfortable 大型船, under the 命令（する） of a most affable man. The 乗客s 構成するd a select and delightful society. The charm of new 知識s and improvised amusements served to make the time pass agreeably. We enjoyed the pleasant sensation of 存在 separated from the world, living, as it were, upon an unknown island, and その結果 強いるd to be sociable with each other.

Have you ever stopped to consider how much originality and spontaneity emanate from these さまざまな individuals who, on the 先行する evening, did not even know each other, and who are now, for several days, 非難するd to lead a life of extreme intimacy, 共同で 反抗するing the 怒り／怒る of the ocean, the terrible 猛攻撃 of the waves, the 暴力／激しさ of the tempest and the agonizing monotony of the 静める and sleepy water? Such a life becomes a sort of 悲劇の 存在, with its 嵐／襲撃するs and its grandeurs, its monotony and its 多様制; and that is why, perhaps, we 乗る，着手する upon that short voyage with mingled feelings of 楽しみ and 恐れる.

But, during the past few years, a new sensation had been 追加するd to the life of the transatlantic 旅行者. The little floating island is now 大（公）使館員d to the world from which it was once やめる 解放する／自由な. A 社債 部隊d them, even in the very heart of the watery wastes of the 大西洋. That 社債 is the wireless telegraph, by means of which we receive news in the most mysterious manner. We know 十分な 井戸／弁護士席 that the message is not 輸送（する）d by the medium of a hollow wire. No, the mystery is even more inexplicable, more romantic, and we must have 頼みの綱 to the wings of the 空気／公表する in order to explain this new 奇蹟. During the first day of the voyage, we felt that we were 存在 followed, 護衛するd, に先行するd even, by that distant 発言する／表明する, which, from time to time, whispered to one of us a few words from the receding world. Two friends spoke to me. Ten, twenty others sent gay or somber words of parting to other 乗客s.

On the second day, at a distance of five hundred miles from the French coast, in the 中央 of a violent 嵐／襲撃する, we received the に引き続いて message by means of the wireless telegraph:

"Arsène Lupin is on your 大型船, first cabin, blond hair, 負傷させる 権利 fore-arm, traveling alone under 指名する of R...."

At that moment, a terrible flash of 雷 rent the 嵐の skies. The electric waves were interrupted. The 残りの人，物 of the 派遣（する） never reached us. Of the 指名する under which Arsène Lupin was 隠すing himself, we knew only the 初期の.

If the news had been of some other character, I have no 疑問 that the secret would have been carefully guarded by the telegraphic 操作者 同様に as by the officers of the 大型船. But it was one of those events calculated to escape from the most rigorous discretion. The same day, no one knew how, the 出来事/事件 became a 事柄 of 現在の gossip and every 乗客 was aware that the famous Arsène Lupin was hiding in our 中央.

Arsène Lupin in our 中央! the irresponsible 夜盗，押し込み強盗 whose 偉業／利用するs had been narrated in all the newspapers during the past few months! the mysterious individual with whom Ganimard, our shrewdest 探偵，刑事, had been engaged in an implacable 衝突 まっただ中に 利益／興味ing and picturesque surroundings. Arsène Lupin, the eccentric gentleman who operates only in the chateaux and salons, and who, one night, entered the 住居 of Baron Schormann, but 現れるd empty-手渡すd, leaving, however, his card on which he had scribbled these words:

"Arsène Lupin, gentleman-夜盗，押し込み強盗, will return when the furniture is 本物の."

Arsène Lupin, the man of a thousand disguises: in turn a chauffeur, 探偵，刑事, bookmaker, ロシアの 内科医, Spanish bull-闘士，戦闘機, 商業の 旅行者, 強健な 青年, or decrepit old man.

Then consider this startling 状況／情勢: Arsène Lupin was wandering about within the 限られた／立憲的な bounds of a transatlantic steamer; in that very small corner of the world, in that dining saloon, in that smoking room, in that music room! Arsène Lupin was, perhaps, this gentleman...or that one...my neighbor at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する... the sharer of my 特別室...

"And this 条件 of 事件／事情／状勢s will last for five days!" exclaimed 行方不明になる Nelly Underdown, next morning. "It is unbearable! I hope he will be 逮捕（する）d."

Then, 演説（する）／住所ing me, she 追加するd:

"And you, Monsieur d'Andrézy, you are on intimate 条件 with the captain; surely you know something?"

I should have been delighted had I 所有するd any （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that would 利益／興味 行方不明になる Nelly. She was one of those magnificent creatures who 必然的に attract attention in every 議会. Wealth and beauty form an irresistible combination, and Nelly 所有するd both.

Educated in Paris under the care of a French mother, she was now going to visit her father, the millionaire Underdown of Chicago. She was …を伴ってd by one of her friends, Lady Jerland.

At first, I had decided to open a flirtation with her; but, in the 速く growing intimacy of the voyage, I was soon impressed by her charming manner and my feelings became too 深い and reverential for a mere flirtation. Moreover, she 受託するd my attentions with a 確かな degree of 好意. She condescended to laugh at my witticisms and 陳列する，発揮する an 利益／興味 in my stories. Yet I felt that I had a 競争相手 in the person of a young man with 静かな and 精製するd tastes; and it struck me, at times, that she preferred his taciturn humor to my Parisian frivolity. He formed one in the circle of admirers that surrounded 行方不明になる Nelly at the time she 演説（する）／住所d to me the foregoing question. We were all comfortably seated in our deck-議長，司会を務めるs. The 嵐／襲撃する of the 先行する evening had （疑いを）晴らすd the sky. The 天候 was now delightful.

"I have no 限定された knowledge, mademoiselle," I replied, "but can not we, ourselves, 調査／捜査する the mystery やめる 同様に as the 探偵，刑事 Ganimard, the personal enemy of Arsène Lupin?"

"Oh! oh! you are 進歩ing very 急速な／放蕩な, monsieur."

"Not at all, mademoiselle. In the first place, let me ask, do you find the problem a 複雑にするd one?"

"Very 複雑にするd."

"Have you forgotten the 重要な we 持つ／拘留する for the 解答 to the problem?"

"What 重要な?"

"In the first place, Lupin calls himself Monsieur R——."

"Rather vague （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）," she replied.

"Secondly, he is traveling alone."

"Does that help you?" she asked.

"Thirdly, he is blond."

"井戸／弁護士席?"

"Then we have only to peruse the 乗客-名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）, and proceed by 過程 of 排除／予選."

I had that 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） in my pocket. I took it out and ちらりと見ることd through it. Then I 発言／述べるd:

"I find that there are only thirteen men on the 乗客-名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） whose 指名するs begin with the letter R."

"Only thirteen?"

"Yes, in the first cabin. And of those thirteen, I find that nine of them are …を伴ってd by women, children or servants. That leaves only four who are traveling alone. First, the Marquis de Raverdan—"

"長官 to the American 外交官／大使," interrupted 行方不明になる Nelly. "I know him."

"Major Rawson," I continued.

"He is my uncle," some one said.

"Mon. Rivolta."

"Here!" exclaimed an Italian, whose 直面する was 隠すd beneath a 激しい 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd.

行方不明になる Nelly burst into laughter, and exclaimed: "That gentleman can scarcely be called a blond."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, then," I said, "we are 軍隊d to the 結論 that the 有罪の party is the last one on the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）."

"What is his 指名する?"

"Mon. Rozaine. Does anyone know him?"

No one answered. But 行方不明になる Nelly turned to the taciturn young man, whose attentions to her had annoyed me, and said:

"井戸／弁護士席, Monsieur Rozaine, why do you not answer?"

All 注目する，もくろむs were now turned upon him. He was a blond. I must 自白する that I myself felt a shock of surprise, and the 深遠な silence that followed her question 示すd that the others 現在の also 見解（をとる）d the 状況／情勢 with a feeling of sudden alarm. However, the idea was an absurd one, because the gentleman in question 現在のd an 空気／公表する of the most perfect innocence.

"Why do I not answer?" he said. "Because, considering my 指名する, my position as a 独房監禁 旅行者 and the color of my hair, I have already reached the same 結論, and now think that I should be 逮捕（する）d."

He 現在のd a strange 外見 as he uttered these words. His thin lips were drawn closer than usual and his 直面する was 恐ろしい pale, whilst his 注目する，もくろむs were streaked with 血. Of course, he was joking, yet his 外見 and 態度 impressed us strangely.

"But you have not the 負傷させる?" said 行方不明になる Nelly, naively.

"That is true," he replied, "I 欠如（する） the 負傷させる."

Then he pulled up his sleeve, 除去するing his cuff, and showed us his arm. But that 活動／戦闘 did not deceive me. He had shown us his left arm, and I was on the point of calling his attention to the fact, when another 出来事/事件 コースを変えるd our attention. Lady Jerland, 行方不明になる Nelly's friend, （機の）カム running に向かって us in a 明言する／公表する of 広大な／多数の／重要な excitement, exclaiming:

"My jewels, my pearls! Some one has stolen them all!"

No, they were not all gone, as we soon 設立する out. The どろぼう had taken only part of them; a very curious thing. Of the diamond sunbursts, jeweled pendants, bracelets and necklaces, the どろぼう had taken, not the largest but the finest and most 価値のある 石／投石するs. The mountings were lying upon the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. I saw them there, despoiled of their jewels, like flowers from which the beautiful colored petals had been ruthlessly plucked. And this 窃盗 must have been committed at the time Lady Jerland was taking her tea; in 幅の広い daylight, in a 特別室 開始 on a much たびたび（訪れる）d 回廊（地帯）; moreover, the どろぼう had been 強いるd to 軍隊 open the door of the 特別室, search for the jewel-事例／患者, which was hidden at the 底（に届く） of a hat-box, open it, select his booty and 除去する it from the mountings.

Of course, all the 乗客s 即時に reached the same 結論; it was the work of Arsène Lupin.

That day, at the dinner （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, the seats to the 権利 and left of Rozaine remained 空いている; and, during the evening, it was 噂するd that the captain had placed him under 逮捕（する）, which （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） produced a feeling of safety and 救済. We breathed once more. That evening, we 再開するd our games and dances. 行方不明になる Nelly, 特に, 陳列する，発揮するd a spirit of thoughtless gayety which 納得させるd me that if Rozaine's attentions had been agreeable to her in the beginning, she had already forgotten them. Her charm and good-humor 完全にするd my conquest. At midnight, under a 有望な moon, I 宣言するd my devotion with an ardor that did not seem to displease her.

But, next day, to our general amazement, Rozaine was at liberty. We learned that the 証拠 against him was not 十分な. He had produced 文書s that were perfectly 正規の／正選手, which showed that he was the son of a 豊富な merchant of Bordeaux. Besides, his 武器 did not 耐える the slightest trace of a 負傷させる.

"文書s! 証明書s of birth!" exclaimed the enemies of Rozaine, "of course, Arsène Lupin will furnish you as many as you 願望（する）. And as to the 負傷させる, he never had it, or he has 除去するd it."

Then it was proven that, at the time of the 窃盗, Rozaine was promenading on the deck. To which fact, his enemies replied that a man like Arsène Lupin could commit a 罪，犯罪 without 存在 現実に 現在の. And then, apart from all other circumstances, there remained one point which even the most skeptical could not answer: Who except Rozaine, was traveling alone, was a blond, and bore a 指名する beginning with R? To whom did the 電報電信 point, if it were not Rozaine?

And when Rozaine, a few minutes before breakfast, （機の）カム boldly toward our group, 行方不明になる Nelly and Lady Jerland arose and walked away.

An hour later, a manuscript circular was passed from 手渡す to 手渡す amongst the sailors, the stewards, and the 乗客s of all classes. It 発表するd that Mon. Louis Rozaine 申し込む／申し出d a reward of ten thousand フランs for the 発見 of Arsène Lupin or other person in 所有／入手 of the stolen jewels.

"And if no one 補助装置s me, I will unmask the scoundrel myself," 宣言するd Rozaine.

Rozaine against Arsène Lupin, or rather, によれば 現在の opinion, Arsène Lupin himself against Arsène Lupin; the contest 約束d to be 利益／興味ing.

Nothing developed during the next two days. We saw Rozaine wandering about, day and night, searching, 尋問, 調査／捜査するing. The captain, also, 陳列する，発揮するd commendable activity. He 原因（となる）d the 大型船 to be searched from 茎・取り除く to 厳しい; ransacked every 特別室 under the plausible theory that the jewels might be 隠すd anywhere, except in the どろぼう's own room.

"I suppose they will find out something soon," 発言／述べるd 行方不明になる Nelly to me. "He may be a wizard, but he cannot make diamonds and pearls become invisible."

"Certainly not," I replied, "but he should 診察する the lining of our hats and vests and everything we carry with us."

Then, 展示（する）ing my Kodak, a 9x12 with which I had been photographing her in さまざまな 提起する／ポーズをとるs, I 追加するd: "In an apparatus no larger than that, a person could hide all of Lady Jerland's jewels. He could pretend to take pictures and no one would 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う the game."

"But I have heard it said that every どろぼう leaves some 手がかり（を与える） behind him."

"That may be 一般に true," I replied, "but there is one exception: Arsène Lupin."

"Why?"

"Because he concentrates his thoughts not only on the 窃盗, but on all the circumstances connected with it that could serve as a 手がかり（を与える） to his 身元."

"A few days ago, you were more 確信して."

"Yes, but since I have seen him at work."

"And what do you think about it now?" she asked.

"井戸／弁護士席, in my opinion, we are wasting our time."

And, as a 事柄 of fact, the 調査 had produced no result. But, in the 合間, the captain's watch had been stolen. He was furious. He quickened his 成果／努力s and watched Rozaine more closely than before. But, on the に引き続いて day, the watch was 設立する in the second officer's collar box.

This 出来事/事件 原因（となる）d かなりの astonishment, and 陳列する，発揮するd the humorous 味方する of Arsène Lupin, 夜盗，押し込み強盗 though he was, but dilettante 同様に. He 連合させるd 商売／仕事 with 楽しみ. He reminded us of the author who almost died in a fit of laughter 刺激するd by his own play. Certainly, he was an artist in his particular line of work, and whenever I saw Rozaine, 暗い／優うつな and reserved, and thought of the 二塁打 役割 that he was playing, I （許可，名誉などを）与えるd him a 確かな 手段 of 賞賛.

On the に引き続いて evening, the officer on deck 義務 heard groans emanating from the darkest corner of the ship. He approached and 設立する a man lying there, his 長，率いる enveloped in a 厚い gray scarf and his 手渡すs tied together with a 激しい cord. It was Rozaine. He had been 強襲，強姦d, thrown 負かす／撃墜する and robbed. A card, pinned to his coat, bore these words:

"Arsène Lupin 受託するs with 楽しみ the ten thousand フランs 申し込む／申し出d by Mon. Rozaine."

As a 事柄 of fact, the stolen pocketbook 含む／封じ込めるd twenty thousand フランs.

Of course, some （刑事）被告 the unfortunate man of having ふりをするd this attack on himself. But, apart from the fact that he could not have bound himself in that manner, it was 設立するd that the 令状ing on the card was 完全に different from that of Rozaine, but, on the contrary, 似ているd the handwriting of Arsène Lupin as it was 再生するd in an old newspaper 設立する on board.

Thus it appeared that Rozaine was not Arsène Lupin; but was Rozaine, the son of a Bordeaux merchant. And the presence of Arsène Lupin was once more 断言するd, and that in a most alarming manner.

Such was the 明言する／公表する of terror amongst the 乗客s that 非，不，無 would remain alone in a 特別室 or wander singly in unfrequented parts of the 大型船. We clung together as a 事柄 of safety. And yet the most intimate 知識s were estranged by a 相互の feeling of 不信. Arsène Lupin was, now, anybody and everybody. Our excited imaginations せいにするd to him miraculous and 制限のない 力／強力にする. We supposed him 有能な of assuming the most 予期しない disguises; of 存在, by turns, the 高度に respectable Major Rawson or the noble Marquis de Raverdan, or even—for we no longer stopped with the 告発する／非難するing letter of R—or even such or such a person 井戸／弁護士席 known to all of us, and having wife, children and servants.

The first wireless 派遣（する）s from America brought no news; at least, the captain did not communicate any to us. The silence was not 安心させるing.

Our last day on the steamer seemed interminable. We lived in constant 恐れる of some 災害. This time, it would not be a simple 窃盗 or a comparatively 害のない 強襲，強姦; it would be a 罪，犯罪, a 殺人. No one imagined that Arsène Lupin would 限定する himself to those two trifling 罪／違反s. 絶対の master of the ship, the 当局 権力のない, he could do whatever he pleased; our 所有物／資産／財産 and lives were at his mercy.

Yet those were delightful hours for me, since they 安全な・保証するd to me the 信用／信任 of 行方不明になる Nelly. 深く，強烈に moved by those startling events and 存在 of a 高度に nervous nature, she spontaneously sought at my 味方する a 保護 and 安全 that I was pleased to give her. Inwardly, I blessed Arsène Lupin. Had he not been the means of bringing me and 行方不明になる Nelly closer to each other? Thanks to him, I could now indulge in delicious dreams of love and happiness—dreams that, I felt, were not unwelcome to 行方不明になる Nelly. Her smiling 注目する，もくろむs 権限を与えるd me to make them; the softness of her 発言する／表明する bade me hope.

As we approached the American shore, the active search for the どろぼう was 明らかに abandoned, and we were anxiously を待つing the 最高の moment in which the mysterious enigma would be explained. Who was Arsène Lupin? Under what 指名する, under what disguise was the famous Arsène Lupin 隠すing himself? And, at last, that 最高の moment arrived. If I live one hundred years, I shall not forget the slightest 詳細（に述べる）s of it.

"How pale you are, 行方不明になる Nelly," I said to my companion, as she leaned upon my arm, almost fainting.

"And you!" she replied, "ah! you are so changed."

"Just think! this is a most exciting moment, and I am delighted to spend it with you, 行方不明になる Nelly. I hope that your memory will いつかs 逆戻りする—"

But she was not listening. She was nervous and excited. The gangway was placed in position, but, before we could use it, the 制服を着た customs officers （機の）カム on board. 行方不明になる Nelly murmured:

"I shouldn't be surprised to hear that Arsène Lupin escaped from the 大型船 during the voyage."

"Perhaps he preferred death to dishonor, and 急落（する），激減（する）d into the 大西洋 rather than be 逮捕（する）d."

"Oh, do not laugh," she said.

Suddenly I started, and, in answer to her question, I said:

"Do you see that little old man standing at the 底（に届く） of the gangway?"

"With an umbrella and an olive-green coat?"

"It is Ganimard."

"Ganimard?"

"Yes, the celebrated 探偵，刑事 who has sworn to 逮捕（する） Arsène Lupin. Ah! I can understand now why we did not receive any news from this 味方する of the 大西洋. Ganimard was here! and he always keeps his 商売／仕事 secret."

"Then you think he will 逮捕（する） Arsène Lupin?"

"Who can tell? The 予期しない always happens when Arsène Lupin is 関心d in the 事件／事情／状勢."

"Oh!" she exclaimed, with that morbid curiosity peculiar to women, "I should like to see him 逮捕（する）d."

"You will have to be 患者. No 疑問, Arsène Lupin has already seen his enemy and will not be in a hurry to leave the steamer."

The 乗客s were now leaving the steamer. Leaning on his umbrella, with an 空気／公表する of careless 無関心／冷淡, Ganimard appeared to be 支払う／賃金ing no attention to the （人が）群がる that was hurrying 負かす／撃墜する the gangway. The Marquis de Raverdan, Major Rawson, the Italian Rivolta, and many others had already left the 大型船 before Rozaine appeared. Poor Rozaine!

"Perhaps it is he, after all," said 行方不明になる Nelly to me. "What do you think?"

"I think it would be very 利益／興味ing to have Ganimard and Rozaine in the same picture. You take the camera. I am 負担d 負かす／撃墜する."

I gave her the camera, but too late for her to use it. Rozaine was already passing the 探偵，刑事. An American officer, standing behind Ganimard, leaned 今後 and whispered in his ear. The French 探偵，刑事 shrugged his shoulders and Rozaine passed on. Then, my God, who was Arsène Lupin?

"Yes," said 行方不明になる Nelly, aloud, "who can it be?"

Not more than twenty people now remained on board. She scrutinized them one by one, fearful that Arsène Lupin was not amongst them.

"We cannot wait much longer," I said to her.

She started toward the gangway. I followed. But we had not taken ten steps when Ganimard 閉めだした our passage.

"井戸／弁護士席, what is it?" I exclaimed.

"One moment, monsieur. What's your hurry?"

"I am 護衛するing mademoiselle."

"One moment," he repeated, in a トン of 当局. Then, gazing into my 注目する，もくろむs, he said:

"Arsène Lupin, is it not?"

I laughed, and replied: "No, 簡単に Bernard d'Andrézy."

"Bernard d'Andrézy died in Macedonia three years ago."

"If Bernard d'Andrézy were dead, I should not be here. But you are mistaken. Here are my papers."

"They are his; and I can tell you 正確に／まさに how they （機の）カム into your 所有／入手."

"You are a fool!" I exclaimed. "Arsène Lupin sailed under the 指名する of R...."

"Yes, another of your tricks; a 誤った scent that deceived them at Havre. You play a good game, my boy, but this time luck is against you."

I hesitated a moment. Then he 攻撃する，衝突する me a sharp blow on the 権利 arm, which 原因（となる）d me to utter a cry of 苦痛. He had struck the 負傷させる, yet unhealed, referred to in the 電報電信.

I was 強いるd to 降伏する. There was no 代案／選択肢. I turned to 行方不明になる Nelly, who had heard everything. Our 注目する，もくろむs met; then she ちらりと見ることd at the Kodak I had placed in her 手渡すs, and made a gesture that 伝えるd to me the impression that she understood everything. Yes, there, between the 狭くする 倍のs of 黒人／ボイコット leather, in the hollow centre of the small 反対する that I had taken the 警戒 to place in her 手渡すs before Ganimard 逮捕（する）d me, it was there I had deposited Rozaine's twenty thousand フランs and Lady Jerland's pearls and diamonds.

Oh! I 誓約（する） my 誓い that, at that solemn moment, when I was in the しっかり掴む of Ganimard and his two assistants, I was perfectly indifferent to everything, to my 逮捕（する）, the 敵意 of the people, everything except this one question: what will 行方不明になる Nelly do with the things I had confided to her?

In the absence of that 構成要素 and conclusive proof, I had nothing to 恐れる; but would 行方不明になる Nelly decide to furnish that proof? Would she betray me? Would she 行為／法令／行動する the part of an enemy who cannot 許す, or that of a woman whose 軽蔑（する） is 軟化するd by feelings of indulgence and involuntary sympathy?

She passed in 前線 of me. I said nothing, but 屈服するd very low. Mingled with the other 乗客s, she 前進するd to the gangway with my Kodak in her 手渡す. It occurred to me that she would not dare to expose me 公然と, but she might do so when she reached a more 私的な place. However, when she had passed only a few feet 負かす／撃墜する the gangway, with a movement of ふりをするd awkwardness, she let the camera 落ちる into the water between the 大型船 and the pier. Then she walked 負かす／撃墜する the gangway, and was quickly lost to sight in the （人が）群がる. She had passed out of my life forever.

For a moment, I stood motionless. Then, to Ganimard's 広大な／多数の／重要な astonishment, I muttered:

"What a pity that I am not an honest man!"

* * *

Such was the story of his 逮捕（する） as narrated to me by Arsène Lupin himself. The さまざまな 出来事/事件s, which I shall 記録，記録的な／記録する in 令状ing at a later day, have 設立するd between us 確かな 関係...shall I say of friendship? Yes, I 投機・賭ける to believe that Arsène Lupin 栄誉（を受ける）s me with his friendship, and that it is through friendship that he occasionally calls on me, and brings, into the silence of my library, his youthful exuberance of spirits, the contagion of his enthusiasm, and the mirth of a man for whom 運命 has naught but 好意s and smiles.

His portrait? How can I 述べる him? I have seen him twenty times and each time he was a different person; even he himself said to me on one occasion: "I no longer know who I am. I cannot 認める myself in the mirror." Certainly, he was a 広大な／多数の／重要な actor, and 所有するd a marvelous faculty for disguising himself. Without the slightest 成果／努力, he could 可決する・採択する the 発言する／表明する, gestures and mannerisms of another person.

"Why," said he, "why should I 保持する a 限定された form and feature? Why not 避ける the danger of a personality that is ever the same? My 活動／戦闘s will serve to identify me."

Then he 追加するd, with a touch of pride:

"So much the better if no one can ever say with 絶対の certainty: There is Arsène Lupin! The 必須の point is that the public may be able to 言及する to my work and say, without 恐れる of mistake: Arsène Lupin did that!"

2. Arsène Lupin in 刑務所，拘置所

There is no tourist worthy of the 指名する who does not know the banks of the Seine, and has not noticed, in passing, the little 封建的 城 of the Malaquis, built upon a 激しく揺する in the centre of the river. An arched 橋（渡しをする） connects it with the shore. All around it, the 静める waters of the 広大な／多数の／重要な river play 平和的に amongst the reeds, and the wagtails ぱたぱたする over the moist crests of the 石／投石するs.

The history of the Malaquis 城 is 嵐の like its 指名する, 厳しい like its 輪郭（を描く）s. It has passed through a long 一連の 戦闘s, 包囲s, 強襲，強姦s, rapines and 大虐殺s. A recital of the 罪，犯罪s that have been committed there would 原因（となる） the stoutest heart to tremble. There are many mysterious legends connected with the 城, and they tell us of a famous subterranean tunnel that 以前は led to the abbey of Jumieges and to the manor of Agnes Sorel, mistress of Charles VII.

In that 古代の habitation of heroes and brigands, the Baron Nathan Cahorn now lived; or Baron Satan as he was 以前は called on the Bourse, where he had acquired a fortune with incredible rapidity. The lords of Malaquis, 絶対 廃虚d, had been 強いるd to sell the 古代の 城 at a 広大な／多数の／重要な sacrifice. It 含む／封じ込めるd an admirable collection of furniture, pictures, 支持を得ようと努めるd carvings, and faience. The Baron lived there alone, …に出席するd by three old servants. No one ever enters the place. No one had ever beheld the three Rubens that he 所有するd, his two Watteaus, his ジーンズ Goujon pulpit, and the many other treasures that he had acquired by a 広大な 支出 of money at public sales.

Baron Satan lived in constant 恐れる, not for himself, but for the treasures that he had 蓄積するd with such an earnest devotion and with so much perspicacity that the shrewdest merchant could not say that the Baron had ever erred in his taste or judgment. He loved them—his bibelots. He loved them intensely, like a miser; jealously, like a lover. Every day, at sunset, the アイロンをかける gates at either end of the 橋（渡しをする） and at the 入り口 to the 法廷，裁判所 of 栄誉（を受ける） are の近くにd and 閉めだした. At the least touch on these gates, electric bells will （犯罪の）一味 throughout the 城.

One Thursday in September, a letter-運送／保菌者 現在のd himself at the gate at the 長，率いる of the 橋（渡しをする）, and, as usual, it was the Baron himself who 部分的に／不公平に opened the 激しい portal. He scrutinized the man as minutely as if he were a stranger, although the honest 直面する and twinkling 注目する，もくろむs of the postman had been familiar to the Baron for many years. The man laughed, as he said:

"It is only I, Monsieur le Baron. It is not another man wearing my cap and blouse."

"One can never tell," muttered the Baron.

The man 手渡すd him a number of newspapers, and then said:

"And now, Monsieur le Baron, here is something new."

"Something new?"

"Yes, a letter. A 登録（する）d letter."

Living as a recluse, without friends or 商売／仕事 relations, the baron never received any letters, and the one now 現在のd to him すぐに 誘発するd within him a feeling of 疑惑 and 不信. It was like an evil omen. Who was this mysterious 特派員 that dared to 乱す the tranquility of his 退却／保養地?

"You must 調印する for it, Monsieur le Baron."

He 調印するd; then took the letter, waited until the postman had disappeared beyond the bend in the road, and, after walking nervously to and fro for a few minutes, he leaned against the parapet of the 橋（渡しをする） and opened the envelope. It 含む／封じ込めるd a sheet of paper, 耐えるing this 長，率いるing: 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé, Paris. He looked at the 署名: Arsène Lupin. Then he read:

"Monsieur le Baron:

"There is, in the gallery in your 城, a picture of Philippe de Champaigne, of exquisite finish, which pleases me beyond 手段. Your Rubens are also to my taste, 同様に as your smaller Watteau. In the salon to the 権利, I have noticed the Louis XIII cadence-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, the tapestries of Beauvais, the Empire gueridon 調印するd 'Jacob,' and the Renaissance chest. In the salon to the left, all the 閣僚 十分な of jewels and miniatures.

"For the 現在の, I will content myself with those articles that can be conveniently 除去するd. I will therefore ask you to pack them carefully and ship them to me, 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金s prepaid, to the 駅／配置する at Batignolles, within eight days, さもなければ I shall be 強いるd to 除去する them myself during the night of 27 September; but, under those circumstances, I shall not content myself with the articles above について言及するd.

"受託する my 陳謝s for any inconvenience I may 原因（となる） you, and believe me to be your humble servant,

"Arsène Lupin.

"P. S.—Please do not send the larger Watteau. Although you paid thirty thousand フランs for it, it is only a copy, the 初めの having been 燃やすd, under the Directoire by Barras, during a night of debauchery. 協議する the memoirs of Garat.

"I do not care for the Louis XV chatelaine, as I 疑問 its authenticity."

That letter 完全に upset the baron. Had it borne any other 署名, he would have been 大いに alarmed—but 調印するd by Arsène Lupin!

As an habitual reader of the newspapers, he was 詩（を作る）d in the history of 最近の 罪，犯罪s, and was therefore 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with the 偉業／利用するs of the mysterious 夜盗，押し込み強盗. Of course, he knew that Lupin had been 逮捕（する）d in America by his enemy Ganimard and was at 現在の incarcerated in the 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé. But he knew also that any 奇蹟 might be 推定する／予想するd from Arsène Lupin. Moreover, that exact knowledge of the 城, the 場所 of the pictures and furniture, gave the 事件／事情／状勢 an alarming 面. How could he have acquired that （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） 関心ing things that no one had ever seen?

The baron raised his 注目する，もくろむs and 熟視する／熟考するd the 厳しい 輪郭（を描く）s of the 城, its 法外な rocky pedestal, the depth of the surrounding water, and shrugged his shoulders. Certainly, there was no danger. No one in the world could 軍隊 an 入り口 to the 聖域 that 含む／封じ込めるd his priceless treasures.

No one, perhaps, but Arsène Lupin! For him, gates, 塀で囲むs and drawbridges did not 存在する. What use were the most formidable 障害s or the most careful 警戒s, if Arsène Lupin had decided to 影響 an 入り口?

* * *

That evening, he wrote to the Procurer of the Republique at Rouen. He enclosed the 脅すing letter and solicited 援助（する） and 保護.

The reply （機の）カム at once to the 影響 that Arsène Lupin was in 保護／拘留 in the 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé, under の近くに 監視, with no 適切な時期 to 令状 such a letter, which was, no 疑問, the work of some ペテン師. But, as an 行為／法令／行動する of 警戒, the Procurer had submitted the letter to an 専門家 in handwriting, who 宣言するd that, in spite of 確かな resemblances, the 令状ing was not that of the 囚人.

But the words "in spite of 確かな resemblances" caught the attention of the baron; in them, he read the 可能性 of a 疑問 which appeared to him やめる 十分な to 令状 the 介入 of the 法律. His 恐れるs 増加するd. He read Lupin's letter over and over again. "I shall be 強いるd to 除去する them myself." And then there was the 直す／買収する，八百長をするd date: the night of 27 September.

To confide in his servants was a 訴訟／進行 repugnant to his nature; but now, for the first time in many years, he experienced the necessity of 捜し出すing counsel with some one. Abandoned by the 合法的な 公式の／役人 of his own 地区, and feeling unable to defend himself with his own 資源s, he was on the point of going to Paris to engage the services of a 探偵，刑事.

* * *

Two days passed; on the third day, he was filled with hope and joy as he read the に引き続いて item in the "Reveil de Caudebec," a newspaper published in a 隣接地の town:

"We have the 楽しみ of entertaining in our city, at the 現在の time, the 退役軍人 探偵，刑事 Mon. Ganimard who acquired a world-wide 評判 by his clever 逮捕（する） of Arsène Lupin. He has come here for 残り／休憩（する） and recreation, and, 存在 an enthusiastic fisherman, he 脅すs to 逮捕（する） all the fish in our river."

Ganimard! Ah, here is the 援助 願望（する）d by Baron Cahorn! Who could baffle the 計画／陰謀s of Arsène Lupin better than Ganimard, the 患者 and astute 探偵，刑事? He was the man for the place.

The baron did not hesitate. The town of Caudebec was only six キロメーターs from the 城, a short distance to a man whose step was 加速するd by the hope of safety.

After several fruitless 試みる／企てるs to ascertain the 探偵，刑事's 演説（する）／住所, the baron visited the office of the "Reveil," 据えるd on the quai. There he 設立する the writer of the article who, approaching the window, exclaimed:

"Ganimard? Why, you are sure to see him somewhere on the quai with his fishing-政治家. I met him there and chanced to read his 指名する engraved on his 棒. Ah, there he is now, under the trees."

"That little man, wearing a straw hat?"

"正確に／まさに. He is a gruff fellow, with little to say."

Five minutes later, the baron approached the celebrated Ganimard, introduced himself, and sought to 開始する a conversation, but that was a 失敗. Then he broached the real 反対する of his interview, and 簡潔に 明言する／公表するd his 事例／患者. The other listened, motionless, with his attention riveted on his fishing-棒. When the baron had finished his story, the fisherman turned, with an 空気／公表する of 深遠な pity, and said:

"Monsieur, it is not customary for thieves to 警告する people they are about to 略奪する. Arsène Lupin, 特に, would not commit such a folly."

"But—"

"Monsieur, if I had the least 疑問, believe me, the 楽しみ of again 逮捕（する）ing Arsène Lupin would place me at your 処分. But, unfortunately, that young man is already under lock and 重要な."

"He may have escaped."

"No one ever escaped from the Santé."

"But, he—"

"He, no more than any other."

"Yet—"

"井戸／弁護士席, if he escapes, so much the better. I will catch him again. 一方／合間, you go home and sleep soundly. That will do for the 現在の. You 脅す the fish."

The conversation was ended. The baron returned to the 城, 安心させるd to some extent by Ganimard's 無関心／冷淡. He 診察するd the bolts, watched the servants, and, during the next forty-eight hours, he became almost 説得するd that his 恐れるs were groundless. Certainly, as Ganimard had said, thieves do not 警告する people they are about to 略奪する.

* * *

The fateful day was の近くに at 手渡す. It was now the twenty-sixth of September and nothing had happened. But at three o'clock the bell rang. A boy brought this 電報電信:

"No goods at Batignolles 駅／配置する. 準備する everything for tomorrow night. Arsène."

This 電報電信 threw the baron into such a 明言する／公表する of excitement that he even considered the advisability of 産する／生じるing to Lupin's 需要・要求するs.

However, he 急いでd to Caudebec. Ganimard was fishing at the same place, seated on a campstool. Without a word, he 手渡すd him the 電報電信.

"井戸／弁護士席, what of it?" said the 探偵，刑事.

"What of it? But it is tomorrow."

"What is tomorrow?"

"The 強盗! The 略奪する of my collections!"

Ganimard laid 負かす／撃墜する his fishing-棒, turned to the baron, and exclaimed, in a トン of impatience:

"Ah! Do you think I am going to bother myself about such a silly story as that!"

"How much do you ask to pass tomorrow night in the 城?"

"Not a sou. Now, leave me alone."

"指名する your own price. I am rich and can 支払う／賃金 it."

This 申し込む／申し出 disconcerted Ganimard, who replied, calmly:

"I am here on a vacation. I have no 権利 to 請け負う such work."

"No one will know. I 約束 to keep it secret."

"Oh! nothing will happen."

"Come! three thousand フランs. Will that be enough?"

The 探偵，刑事, after a moment's reflection, said:

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. But I must 警告する you that you are throwing your money out of the window."

"I do not care."

"In that 事例／患者...but, after all, what do we know about this devil Lupin! He may have やめる a 非常に／多数の 禁止（する）d of robbers with him. Are you sure of your servants?"

"My 約束—"

"Better not count on them. I will telegraph for two of my men to help me. And now, go! It is better for us not to be seen together. Tomorrow evening about nine o'clock."

* * *

The に引き続いて day—the date 直す／買収する，八百長をするd by Arsène Lupin—Baron Cahorn arranged all his panoply of war, furbished his 武器s, and, like a sentinel, paced to and fro in 前線 of the 城. He saw nothing, heard nothing. At half-past eight o'clock in the evening, he 解任するd his servants. They 占領するd rooms in a wing of the building, in a retired 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, 井戸／弁護士席 除去するd from the main 部分 of the 城. すぐに thereafter, the baron heard the sound of approaching footsteps. It was Ganimard and his two assistants—広大な／多数の／重要な, powerful fellows with 巨大な 手渡すs, and necks like bulls. After asking a few questions relating to the 場所 of the さまざまな 入り口s and rooms, Ganimard carefully の近くにd and バリケードd all the doors and windows through which one could 伸び（る） 接近 to the 脅すd rooms. He 検査／視察するd the 塀で囲むs, raised the tapestries, and finally 任命する／導入するd his assistants in the central gallery which was 位置を示すd between the two salons.

"No nonsense! We are not here to sleep. At the slightest sound, open the windows of the 法廷，裁判所 and call me. 支払う／賃金 attention also to the water-味方する. Ten metres of perpendicular 激しく揺する is no 障害 to those devils."

Ganimard locked his assistants in the gallery, carried away the 重要なs, and said to the baron:

"And now, to our 地位，任命する."

He had chosen for himself a small room 位置を示すd in the 厚い outer 塀で囲む, between the two 主要な／長／主犯 doors, and which, in former years, had been the watchman's ４半期/4分の1s. A peep-穴を開ける opened upon the 橋（渡しをする）; another on the 法廷，裁判所. In one corner, there was an 開始 to a tunnel.

"I believe you told me, Monsieur le Baron, that this tunnel is the only subterranean 入り口 to the 城 and that it has been の近くにd up for time immemorial?"

"Yes."

"Then, unless there is some other 入り口, known only to Arsène Lupin, we are やめる 安全な."

He placed three 議長，司会を務めるs together, stretched himself upon them, lighted his 麻薬を吸う and sighed:

"Really, Monsieur le Baron, I feel ashamed to 受託する your money for such a sinecure as this. I will tell the story to my friend Lupin. He will enjoy it immensely."

The baron did not laugh. He was anxiously listening, but heard nothing save the （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing of his own heart. From time to time, he leaned over the tunnel and cast a fearful 注目する，もくろむ into its depths. He heard the clock strike eleven, twelve, one.

Suddenly, he 掴むd Ganimard's arm. The latter leaped up, awakened from his sleep.

"Do you hear?" asked the baron, in a whisper.

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"I was snoring, I suppose."

"No, no, listen."

"Ah! yes, it is the horn of an automobile."

"井戸／弁護士席?"

"井戸／弁護士席! it is very improbable that Lupin would use an automobile like a 乱打するing-押し通す to 破壊する your 城. Come, Monsieur le Baron, return to your 地位，任命する. I am going to sleep. Good-night."

That was the only alarm. Ganimard 再開するd his interrupted slumbers, and the baron heard nothing except the 正規の／正選手 snoring of his companion. At break of day, they left the room. The 城 was enveloped in a 深遠な 静める; it was a 平和的な 夜明け on the bosom of a tranquil river. They 機動力のある the stairs, Cahorn radiant with joy, Ganimard 静める as usual. They heard no sound; they saw nothing to 誘発する 疑惑.

"What did I tell you, Monsieur le Baron? Really, I should not have 受託するd your 申し込む／申し出. I am ashamed."

He 打ち明けるd the door and entered the gallery. Upon two 議長，司会を務めるs, with drooping 長，率いるs and pendent 武器, the 探偵，刑事's two assistants were asleep.

"Tonnerre de nom d'un chien!" exclaimed Ganimard. At the same moment, the baron cried out:

"The pictures! The credence!"

He stammered, choked, with 武器 outstretched toward the empty places, toward the denuded 塀で囲むs where naught remained but the useless nails and cords. The Watteau, disappeared! The Rubens, carried away! The tapestries taken 負かす／撃墜する! The 閣僚s, despoiled of their jewels!

"And my Louis XVI candelabra! And the Regent chandelier!...And my twelfth-century Virgin!"

He ran from one 位置／汚点／見つけ出す to another in wildest despair. He 解任するd the 購入（する） price of each article, 追加するd up the 人物／姿／数字s, counted his losses, pell-mell, in 混乱させるd words and unfinished phrases. He stamped with 激怒（する）; he groaned with grief. He 行為／法令／行動するd like a 廃虚d man whose only hope is 自殺.

If anything could have consoled him, it would have been the stupefaction 陳列する，発揮するd by Ganimard. The famous 探偵，刑事 did not move. He appeared to be petrified; he 診察するd the room in a listless manner. The windows?...の近くにd. The locks on the doors?...損なわれていない. Not a break in the 天井; not a 穴を開ける in the 床に打ち倒す. Everything was in perfect order. The 窃盗 had been carried out methodically, によれば a 論理（学）の and inexorable 計画（する）.

"Arsène Lupin...Arsène Lupin," he muttered.

Suddenly, as if moved by 怒り／怒る, he 急ぐd upon his two assistants and shook them violently. They did not awaken.

"The devil!" he cried. "Can it be possible?"

He leaned over them and, in turn, 診察するd them closely. They were asleep; but their 返答 was unnatural.

"They have been drugged," he said to the baron.

"By whom?"

"By him, of course, or his men under his discretion. That work 耐えるs his stamp."

"In that 事例／患者, I am lost—nothing can be done."

"Nothing," assented Ganimard.

"It is dreadful; it is monstrous."

"宿泊する a （民事の）告訴."

"What good will that do?"

"Oh; it is 井戸／弁護士席 to try it. The 法律 has some 資源s."

"The 法律! Bah! it is useless. You 代表する the 法律, and, at this moment, when you should be looking for a 手がかり（を与える） and trying to discover something, you do not even 動かす."

"Discover something with Arsène Lupin! Why, my dear monsieur, Arsène Lupin never leaves any 手がかり（を与える） behind him. He leaves nothing to chance. いつかs I think he put himself in my way and 簡単に 許すd me to 逮捕（する） him in America."

"Then, I must 放棄する my pictures! He has taken the gems of my collection. I would give a fortune to 回復する them. If there is no other way, let him 指名する his own price."

Ganimard regarded the baron attentively, as he said:

"Now, that is sensible. Will you stick to it?"

"Yes, yes. But why?"

"An idea that I have."

"What is it?"

"We will discuss it later—if the 公式の／役人 examination does not 後継する. But, not one word about me, if you wish my 援助."

He 追加するd, between his teeth:

"It is true I have nothing to 誇る of in this 事件／事情／状勢."

The assistants were 徐々に 回復するing consciousness with the bewildered 空気／公表する of people who come out of an hypnotic sleep. They opened their 注目する，もくろむs and looked about them in astonishment. Ganimard questioned them; they remembered nothing.

"But you must have seen some one?"

"No."

"Can't you remember?"

"No, no."

"Did you drink anything?"

They considered a moment, and then one of them replied:

"Yes, I drank a little water."

"Out of that carafe?"

"Yes."

"So did I," 宣言するd the other.

Ganimard smelled and tasted it. It had no particular taste and no odor.

"Come," he said, "we are wasting our time here. One can't decide an Arsène Lupin problem in five minutes. But, morbleu! I 断言する I will catch him again."

The same day, a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 押し込み強盗 was duly 成し遂げるd by Baron Cahorn against Arsène Lupin, a 囚人 in the 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé.

* * *

The baron afterwards regretted making the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 against Lupin when he saw his 城 配達するd over to the gendarmes, the procureur, the 裁判官 d'指示／教授／教育, the newspaper reporters and photographers, and a throng of idle curiosity-探検者s.

The 事件／事情／状勢 soon became a topic of general discussion, and the 指名する of Arsène Lupin excited the public imagination to such an extent that the newspapers filled their columns with the most fantastic stories of his 偉業／利用するs which 設立する ready credence amongst their readers.

But the letter of Arsène Lupin that was published in the 'Echo de フラン' (no once ever knew how the newspaper 得るd it), that letter in which Baron Cahorn was impudently 警告するd of the coming 窃盗, 原因（となる）d かなりの excitement. The most fabulous theories were 前進するd. Some 解任するd the 存在 of the famous subterranean tunnels, and that was the line of 研究 追求するd by the officers of the 法律, who searched the house from 最高の，を越す to 底（に届く）, questioned every 石／投石する, 熟考する／考慮するd the wainscoting and the chimneys, the window-でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるs and the girders in the 天井s. By the light of たいまつs, they 診察するd the 巨大な cellars where the lords of Malaquis were wont to 蓄える／店 their 軍需品s and 準備／条項s. They sounded the rocky 創立／基礎 to its very centre. But it was all in vain. They discovered no trace of a subterranean tunnel. No secret passage 存在するd.

But the eager public 宣言するd that the pictures and furniture could not 消える like so many ghosts. They are 相当な, 構成要素 things and 要求する doors and windows for their 出口s and their 入り口s, and so do the people that 除去する them. Who were those people? How did they 伸び（る） 接近 to the 城? And how did they leave it?

The police officers of Rouen, 納得させるd of their own impotence, solicited the 援助 of the Parisian 探偵，刑事 軍隊. Mon. Dudouis, 長，指導者 of the S?eté, sent the best sleuths of the アイロンをかける 旅団. He himself spent forty-eight hours at the 城, but met with no success. Then he sent for Ganimard, whose past services had 証明するd so useful when all else failed.

Ganimard listened, in silence, to the 指示／教授／教育s of his superior; then, shaking his 長，率いる, he said:

"In my opinion, it is useless to ransack the 城. The 解答 of the problem lies どこかよそで."

"Where, then?"

"With Arsène Lupin."

"With Arsène Lupin! To support that theory, we must 収容する／認める his 介入."

"I do 収容する／認める it. In fact, I consider it やめる 確かな ."

"Come, Ganimard, that is absurd. Arsène Lupin is in 刑務所，拘置所."

"I 認める you that Arsène Lupin is in 刑務所，拘置所, closely guarded; but he must have fetters on his feet, manacles on his wrists, and gag in his mouth before I change my opinion."

"Why so obstinate, Ganimard?"

"Because Arsène Lupin is the only man in フラン of 十分な calibre to invent and carry out a 計画／陰謀 of that magnitude."

"Mere words, Ganimard."

"But true ones. Look! What are they doing? Searching for subterranean passages, 石／投石するs swinging on pivots, and other nonsense of that 肉親，親類d. But Lupin doesn't 雇う such old-fashioned methods. He is a modern cracksman, 権利 up to date."

"And how would you proceed?"

"I should ask your 許可 to spend an hour with him."

"In his 独房?"

"Yes. During the return trip from America we became very friendly, and I 投機・賭ける to say that if he can give me any （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） without 妥協ing himself he will not hesitate to save me from incurring useless trouble."

* * *

It was すぐに after noon when Ganimard entered the 独房 of Arsène Lupin. The latter, who was lying on his bed, raised his 長，率いる and uttered a cry of 明らかな joy.

"Ah! This is a real surprise. My dear Ganimard, here!"

"Ganimard himself."

"In my chosen 退却／保養地, I have felt a 願望（する） for many things, but my fondest wish was to receive you here."

"Very 肉親，親類d of you, I am sure."

"Not at all. You know I 持つ／拘留する you in the highest regard."

"I am proud of it."

"I have always said: Ganimard is our best 探偵，刑事. He is almost,—you see how candid I am!—he is almost as clever as Sherlock Holmes. But I am sorry that I cannot 申し込む／申し出 you anything better than this hard stool. And no refreshments! Not even a glass of beer! Of course, you will excuse me, as I am here only 一時的に."

Ganimard smiled, and 受託するd the proffered seat. Then the 囚人 continued:

"Mon Dieu, how pleased I am to see the 直面する of an honest man. I am so tired of those devils of 秘かに調査するs who come here ten times a day to ransack my pockets and my 独房 to 満足させる themselves that I am not 準備するing to escape. The 政府 is very solicitous on my account."

"It is やめる 権利."

"Why so? I should be やめる contented if they would 許す me to live in my own 静かな way."

"On other people's money."

"やめる so. That would be so simple. But here, I am joking, and you are, no 疑問, in a hurry. So let us come to 商売／仕事, Ganimard. To what do I 借りがある the 栄誉（を受ける） of this visit?"

"The Cahorn 事件／事情／状勢," 宣言するd Ganimard, 率直に.

"Ah! Wait, one moment. You see I have had so many 事件／事情／状勢s! First, let me 直す／買収する，八百長をする in my mind the circumstances of this particular 事例／患者...Ah! yes, now I have it. The Cahorn 事件／事情／状勢, Malaquis 城, Seine-Inférieure...Two Rubens, a Watteau, and a few trifling articles."

"Trifling!"

"Oh! ma foi, all that is of slight importance. But it 十分であるs to know that the 事件／事情／状勢 利益／興味s you. How can I serve you, Ganimard?"

"Must I explain to you what steps the 当局 have taken in the 事柄?"

"Not at all. I have read the newspapers and I will 率直に 明言する／公表する that you have made very little 進歩."

"And that is the 推論する／理由 I have come to see you."

"I am 完全に at your service."

"In the first place, the Cahorn 事件／事情／状勢 was managed by you?"

"From A to Z."

"The letter of 警告? the 電報電信?"

"All 地雷. I せねばならない have the 領収書s somewhere."

Arsène opened the drawer of a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する of plain white 支持を得ようと努めるd which, with the bed and stool, 構成するd all the furniture in his 独房, and took therefrom two 捨てるs of paper which he 手渡すd to Ganimard.

"Ah!" exclaimed the 探偵，刑事, in surprise, "I though you were closely guarded and searched, and I find that you read the newspapers and collect 郵便の 領収書s."

"Bah! these people are so stupid! They open the lining of my vest, they 診察する the 単独のs of my shoes, they sound the 塀で囲むs of my 独房, but they never imagine that Arsène Lupin would be foolish enough to choose such a simple hiding place."

Ganimard laughed, as he said:

"What a droll fellow you are! Really, you bewilder me. But, come now, tell me about the Cahorn 事件／事情／状勢."

"Oh! oh! not やめる so 急速な／放蕩な! You would 略奪する me of all my secrets; expose all my little tricks. That is a very serious 事柄."

"Was I wrong to count on your complaisance?"

"No, Ganimard, and since you 主張する—"

Arsène Lupin paced his 独房 two or three times, then, stopping before Ganimard, he asked:

"What do you think of my letter to the baron?"

"I think you were amusing yourself by playing to the gallery."

"Ah! playing to the gallery! Come, Ganimard, I thought you knew me better. Do I, Arsène Lupin, ever waste my time on such puerilities? Would I have written that letter if I could have robbed the baron without 令状ing to him? I want you to understand that the letter was 不可欠の; it was the モーター that 始める，決める the whole machine in 動議. Now, let us discuss together a 計画／陰謀 for the 強盗 of the Malaquis 城. Are you willing?"

"Yes, proceed."

"井戸／弁護士席, let us suppose a 城 carefully の近くにd and バリケードd like that of the Baron Cahorn. Am I to abandon my 計画／陰謀 and 放棄する the treasures that I covet, upon the pretext that the 城 which 持つ／拘留するs them is inaccessible?"

"Evidently not."

"Should I make an 強襲，強姦 upon the 城 at the 長，率いる of a 禁止（する）d of adventurers as they did in 古代の times?"

"That would be foolish."

"Can I 伸び（る） admittance by stealth or cunning?"

"Impossible."

"Then there is only one way open to me. I must have the owner of the 城 招待する me to it."

"That is surely an 初めの method."

"And how 平易な! Let us suppose that one day the owner receives a letter 警告 him that a 悪名高い 夜盗，押し込み強盗 known as Arsène Lupin is plotting to 略奪する him. What will he do?"

"Send a letter to the Procureur."

"Who will laugh at him, because the said Arsène Lupin is 現実に in 刑務所，拘置所. Then, in his 苦悩 and 恐れる, the simple man will ask the 援助 of the first-comer, will he not?"

"Very likely."

"And if he happens to read in a country newspaper that a celebrated 探偵，刑事 is spending his vacation in a 隣接地の town—"

"He will 捜し出す that 探偵，刑事."

"Of course. But, on the other 手渡す, let us 推定する that, having foreseen that 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s, the said Arsène Lupin has requested one of his friends to visit Caudebec, make the 知識 of the editor of the 'Ré隠す,' a newspaper to which the baron is a 加入者, and let said editor understand that such person is the celebrated 探偵，刑事—then, what will happen?"

"The editor will 発表する in the 'Ré隠す' the presence in Caudebec of said 探偵，刑事."

"正確に／まさに; and one of two things will happen: either the fish—I mean Cahorn—will not bite, and nothing will happen; or, what is more likely, he will run and greedily swallow the bait. Thus, behold my Baron Cahorn imploring the 援助 of one of my friends against me."

"初めの, indeed!"

"Of course, the pseudo-探偵，刑事 at first 辞退するs to give any 援助. On 最高の，を越す of that comes the 電報電信 from Arsène Lupin. The 脅すd baron 急ぐs once more to my friend and 申し込む／申し出s him a 限定された sum of money for his services. My friend 受託するs and 召喚するs two members of our 禁止（する）d, who, during the night, whilst Cahorn is under the watchful 注目する，もくろむ of his protector, 除去するs 確かな articles by way of the window and lowers them with ropes into a nice little 開始する，打ち上げる 借り切る／憲章d for the occasion. Simple, isn't it?"

"Marvelous! Marvelous!" exclaimed Ganimard. "The boldness of the 計画／陰謀 and the ingenuity of all its 詳細（に述べる）s are beyond 批評. But who is the 探偵，刑事 whose 指名する and fame served as a magnet to attract the baron and draw him into your 逮捕する?"

"There is only one 指名する could do it—only one."

"And that is?"

"Arsène Lupin's personal enemy—the most illustrious Ganimard."

"I?"

"Yourself, Ganimard. And, really, it is very funny. If you go there, and the baron decides to talk, you will find that it will be your 義務 to 逮捕（する） yourself, just as you 逮捕（する）d me in America. Hein! the 復讐 is really amusing: I 原因（となる） Ganimard to 逮捕（する） Ganimard."

Arsène Lupin laughed heartily. The 探偵，刑事, 大いに 悩ますd, bit his lips; to him the joke was やめる devoid of humor. The arrival of a 刑務所，拘置所 guard gave Ganimard an 適切な時期 to 回復する himself. The man brought Arsène Lupin's 昼食, furnished by a 隣接地の restaurant. After depositing the tray upon the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, the guard retired. Lupin broke his bread, ate a few morsels, and continued:

"But, 残り／休憩（する） 平易な, my dear Ganimard, you will not go to Malaquis. I can tell you something that will astonish you: the Cahorn 事件／事情／状勢 is on the point of 存在 settled."

"Excuse me; I have just seen the 長，指導者 of the Sureté."

"What of that? Does Mon. Dudouis know my 商売／仕事 better than I do myself? You will learn that Ganimard—excuse me—that the pseudo-Ganimard still remains on very good 条件 with the baron. The latter has 権限を与えるd him to 交渉する a very delicate 処理／取引 with me, and, at the 現在の moment, in consideration of a 確かな sum, it is probable that the baron has 回復するd 所有／入手 of his pictures and other treasures. And on their return, he will 身を引く his （民事の）告訴. Thus, there is no longer any 窃盗, and the 法律 must abandon the 事例／患者."

Ganimard regarded the 囚人 with a bewildered 空気／公表する.

"And how do you know all that?"

"I have just received the 電報電信 I was 推定する／予想するing."

"You have just received a 電報電信?"

"This very moment, my dear friend. Out of politeness, I did not wish to read it in your presence. But if you will 許す me—"

"You are joking, Lupin."

"My dear friend, if you will be so 肉親，親類d as to break that egg, you will learn for yourself that I am not joking."

Mechanically, Ganimard obeyed, and 割れ目d the egg-爆撃する with the blade of a knife. He uttered a cry of surprise. The 爆撃する 含む／封じ込めるd nothing but a small piece of blue paper. At the request of Arsène he 広げるd it. It was a 電報電信, or rather a 部分 of a 電報電信 from which the 地位，任命する-示すs had been 除去するd. It read as follows:

"契約 の近くにd. Hundred thousand balls 配達するd. All 井戸／弁護士席."

"One hundred thousand balls?" said Ganimard.

"Yes, one hundred thousand フランs. Very little, but then, you know, these are hard times...And I have some 激しい 法案s to 会合，会う. If you only knew my 予算...living in the city comes very high."

Ganimard arose. His ill humor had disappeared. He 反映するd for a moment, ちらりと見ることing over the whole 事件／事情／状勢 in an 成果／努力 to discover a weak point; then, in a トン and manner that betrayed his 賞賛 of the 囚人, he said:

"Fortunately, we do not have a dozen such as you to を取り引きする; if we did, we would have to の近くに up shop."

Arsène Lupin assumed a modest 空気／公表する, as he replied:

"Bah! a person must have some 転換 to 占領する his leisure hours, 特に when he is in 刑務所，拘置所."

"What!" exclaimed Ganimard, "your 裁判，公判, your 弁護, the examination—isn't that 十分な to 占領する your mind?"

"No, because I have decided not to be 現在の at my 裁判，公判."

"Oh! oh!"

Arsène Lupin repeated, 前向きに／確かに:

"I shall not be 現在の at my 裁判，公判."

"Really!"

"Ah! my dear monsieur, do you suppose I am going to rot upon the wet straw? You 侮辱 me. Arsène Lupin remains in 刑務所，拘置所 just as long as it pleases him, and not one minute more."

"Perhaps it would have been more 慎重な if you had 避けるd getting there," said the 探偵，刑事, ironically.

"Ah! monsieur jests? Monsieur must remember that he had the 栄誉（を受ける） to 影響 my 逮捕（する）. Know then, my worthy friend, that no one, not even you, could have placed a 手渡す upon me if a much more important event had not 占領するd my attention at that 批判的な moment."

"You astonish me."

"A woman was looking at me, Ganimard, and I loved her. Do you fully understand what that means: to be under the 注目する，もくろむs of a woman that one loves? I cared for nothing in the world but that. And that is why I am here."

"許す me to say: you have been here a long time."

"In the first place, I wished to forget. Do not laugh; it was a delightful adventure and it is still a tender memory. Besides, I have been 苦しむing from neurasthenia. Life is so feverish these days that it is necessary to take the '残り／休憩（する） cure' occasionally, and I find this 位置／汚点／見つけ出す a 君主 治療（薬） for my tired 神経s."

"Arsène Lupin, you are not a bad fellow, after all."

"Thank you," said Lupin. "Ganimard, this is Friday. On Wednesday next, at four o'clock in the afternoon, I will smoke my cigar at your house in the rue Pergolese."

"Arsène Lupin, I will 推定する／予想する you."

They shook 手渡すs like two old friends who valued each other at their true 価値（がある）; then the 探偵，刑事 stepped to the door.

"Ganimard!"

"What is it?" asked Ganimard, as he turned 支援する.

"You have forgotten your watch."

"My watch?"

"Yes, it 逸脱するd into my pocket."

He returned the watch, excusing himself.

"容赦 me...a bad habit. Because they have taken 地雷 is no 推論する／理由 why I should take yours. Besides, I have a chronometer here that 満足させるs me 公正に／かなり 井戸／弁護士席."

He took from the drawer a large gold watch and 激しい chain.

"From whose pocket did that come?" asked Ganimard.

Arsène Lupin gave a 迅速な ちらりと見ること at the 初期のs engraved on the watch.

"J.B....Who the devil can that be?...Ah! yes, I remember. Jules Bouvier, the 裁判官 who 行為／行うd my examination. A charming fellow!..."

3. The Escape of Arsène Lupin

Arsène Lupin had just finished his repast and taken from his pocket an excellent cigar, with a gold 禁止（する）d, which he was 診察するing with unusual care, when the door of his 独房 was opened. He had barely time to throw the cigar into the drawer and move away from the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. The guard entered. It was the hour for 演習.

"I was waiting for you, my dear boy," exclaimed Lupin, in his accustomed good humor.

They went out together. As soon as they had disappeared at a turn in the 回廊（地帯）, two men entered the 独房 and 開始するd a minute examination of it. One was 視察官 Dieuzy; the other was 視察官 Folenfant. They wished to 立証する their 疑惑 that Arsène Lupin was in communication with his 共犯者s outside of the 刑務所，拘置所. On the 先行する evening, the "Grand 定期刊行物" had published these lines 演説（する）／住所d to its 法廷，裁判所 reporter:

"Monsieur:
"In a 最近の article you referred to me in most 正統化できない 条件. Some days before the 開始 of my 裁判，公判 I will call you to account.
Arsène Lupin."

The handwriting was certainly that of Arsène Lupin. その結果, he sent letters; and, no 疑問, received letters. It was 確かな that he was 準備するing for that escape thus arrogantly 発表するd by him.

The 状況／情勢 had become intolerable. 事実上の／代理 in 合同 with the 診察するing 裁判官, the 長，指導者 of the S?eté, Mon. Dudouis, had visited the 刑務所，拘置所 and 教えるd the gaoler in regard to the 警戒s necessary to insure Lupin's safety. At the same time, he sent the two men to 診察する the 囚人's 独房. They raised every 石／投石する, ransacked the bed, did everything customary in such a 事例／患者, but they discovered nothing, and were about to abandon their 調査 when the guard entered あわてて and said:

"The drawer...look in the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する-drawer. When I entered just now he was の近くにing it."

They opened the drawer, and Dieuzy exclaimed:

"Ah! we have him this time."

Folenfant stopped him.

"Wait a moment. The 長，指導者 will want to make an 在庫."

"This is a very choice cigar."

"Leave it there, and 通知する the 長，指導者."

Two minutes later Mon. Dudouis 診察するd the contents of the drawer. First he discovered a bundle of newspaper clippings relating to Arsène Lupin taken from the "Argus de la 圧力（をかける）," then a タバコ-box, a 麻薬を吸う, some paper called "onion-peel," and two 調書をとる／予約するs. He read the 肩書を与えるs of the 調書をとる／予約するs. One was an English 版 of Carlyle's "Hero-worship"; the other was a charming elzevir, in modern binding, the "手動式の of Epictetus," a German translation published at Leyden in 1634. On 診察するing the 調書をとる／予約するs, he 設立する that all the pages were を強調するd and annotated. Were they 用意が出来ている as a code for correspondence, or did they 簡単に 表明する the studious character of the reader? Then he 診察するd the タバコ-box and the 麻薬を吸う. Finally, he took up the famous cigar with its gold 禁止（する）d.

"Fichtre!" he exclaimed. "Our friend smokes a good cigar. It's a Henry Clay."

With the mechanical 活動／戦闘 of an habitual smoker, he placed the cigar の近くに to his ear and squeezed it to make it 割れ目. すぐに he uttered a cry of surprise. The cigar had 産する／生じるd under the 圧力 of his fingers. He 診察するd it more closely, and quickly discovered something white between the leaves of タバコ. Delicately, with the 援助（する） of a pin, he withdrew a roll of very thin paper, scarcely larger than a toothpick. It was a letter. He unrolled it, and 設立する these words, written in a feminine handwriting:

"The basket has taken the place of the others. Eight out of ten are ready. On 圧力（をかける）ing the outer foot the plate goes downward. From twelve to sixteen every day, H-P will wait. But where? Reply at once. 残り／休憩（する） 平易な; your friend is watching over you."

Mon. Dudouis 反映するd a moment, then said:

"It is やめる （疑いを）晴らす...the basket...the eight compartments... From twelve to sixteen means from twelve to four o'clock."

"But this H-P, that will wait?"

"H-P must mean automobile. H-P, horsepower, is the way they 示す strength of the モーター. A twenty-four H-P is an automobile of twenty-four horsepower."

Then he rose, and asked:

"Had the 囚人 finished his breakfast?"

"Yes."

"And as he has not yet read the message, which is 証明するd by the 条件 of the cigar, it is probable that he had just received it."

"How?"

"In his food. 隠すd in his bread or in a potato, perhaps."

"Impossible. His food was 許すd to be brought in 簡単に to 罠（にかける） him, but we have never 設立する anything in it."

"We will look for Lupin's reply this evening. 拘留する him outside for a few minutes. I shall take this to the 診察するing 裁判官, and, if he agrees with me, we will have the letter photographed at once, and in an hour you can 取って代わる the letter in the drawer in a cigar 類似の to this. The 囚人 must have no 原因（となる） for 疑惑."

It was not without a 確かな curiosity that Mon. Dudouis returned to the 刑務所，拘置所 in the evening, …を伴ってd by 視察官 Dieuzy. Three empty plates were sitting on the stove in the corner.

"He has eaten?"

"Yes," replied the guard.

"Dieuzy, please 削減（する） that macaroni into very small pieces, and open that bread-roll...Nothing?"

"No, 長，指導者."

Mon. Dudouis 診察するd the plates, the fork, the spoon, and the knife—an ordinary knife with a 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd blade. He turned the 扱う to the left; then to the 権利. It 産する／生じるd and unscrewed. The knife was hollow, and served as a hiding-place for a sheet of paper.

"Peuh!" he said, "that is not very clever for a man like Arsène. But we mustn't lose any time. You, Dieuzy, go and search the restaurant."

Then he read the 公式文書，認める:

"I 信用 to you, H-P will follow at a distance every day. I will go ahead. Au revoir, dear friend."

"At last," cried Mon. Dudouis, rubbing his 手渡すs gleefully, "I think we have the 事件／事情／状勢 in our own 手渡すs. A little 戦略 on our part, and the escape will be a success in so far as the 逮捕（する） of his confederates are 関心d."

"But if Arsène Lupin slips through your fingers?" 示唆するd the guard.

"We will have a 十分な number of men to 妨げる that. If, however, he 陳列する，発揮するs too much cleverness, ma foi, so much the worse for him! As to his 禁止（する）d of robbers, since the 長，指導者 辞退するs to speak, the others must."

* * *

And, as a 事柄 of fact, Arsène Lupin had very little to say. For several months, Mon. Jules Bouvier, the 診察するing 裁判官, had 発揮するd himself in vain. The 調査 had been 減ずるd to a few uninteresting arguments between the 裁判官 and the 支持する, Ma?re Danval, one of the leaders of the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業. From time to time, through 儀礼, Arsène Lupin would speak. One day he said:

"Yes, monsieur, le 裁判官, I やめる agree with you: the 強盗 of the Crédit Lyonnais, the 窃盗 in the rue de Babylone, the 問題／発行する of the 偽造の bank-公式文書，認めるs, the 押し込み強盗s at the さまざまな ch穰eaux, Armesnil, Gouret, Imblevain, Groseillers, Malaquis, all my work, monsieur, I did it all."

"Then will you explain to me—"

"It is useless. I 自白する everything in a lump, everything and even ten times more than you know nothing about."

疲れた／うんざりしたd by his fruitless 仕事, the 裁判官 had 一時停止するd his examinations, but he 再開するd them after the two 迎撃するd messages were brought to his attention; and 定期的に, at 中央の-day, Arsène Lupin was taken from the 刑務所，拘置所 to the Dép? in the 刑務所，拘置所-先頭 with a 確かな number of other 囚人s. They returned about three or four o'clock.

* * *

Now, one afternoon, this return trip was made under unusual 条件s. The other 囚人s not having been 診察するd, it was decided to take 支援する Arsène Lupin first, thus he 設立する himself alone in the 乗り物.

Arsène was placed in the third 独房 on the 権利, and the 激しい 乗り物 started. He carefully calculated when they left the quai de l'Horloge, and when they passed the Palais de 司法（官）. Then, about the centre of the 橋（渡しをする） Saint Michel, with his outer foot, that is to say, his 権利 foot, he 圧力（をかける）d upon the metal plate that の近くにd his 独房. すぐに something clicked, and the metal plate moved. He was able to ascertain that he was 位置を示すd between the two wheels.

He waited, keeping a sharp look-out. The 乗り物 was 訴訟／進行 slowly along the boulevard Saint Michel. At the corner of Saint Germain it stopped. A トラックで運ぶ horse had fallen. The traffic having been interrupted, a 広大な throng of fiacres and omnibuses had gathered there. Arsène Lupin looked out. Another 刑務所，拘置所-先頭 had stopped の近くに to the one he 占領するd. He moved the plate still さらに先に, put his foot on one of the spokes of the wheel and leaped to the ground. A coachman saw him, roared with laughter, then tried to raise an 激しい抗議, but his 発言する／表明する was lost in the noise of the traffic that had 開始するd to move again. Moreover, Arsène Lupin was already far away.

He had run for a few steps; but, once upon the sidewalk, he turned and looked around; he seemed to scent the 勝利，勝つd like a person who is uncertain which direction to take. Then, having decided, he put his 手渡すs in his pockets, and, with the careless 空気／公表する of an idle stroller, he proceeded up the boulevard. It was a warm, 有望な autumn day, and the cafés were 十分な. He took a seat on the terrace of one of them. He ordered a bock and a 一括 of cigarettes. He emptied his glass slowly, smoked one cigarette and lighted a second. Then he asked the waiter to send the proprietor to him. When the proprietor （機の）カム, Arsène spoke to him in a 発言する／表明する loud enough to be heard by everyone:

"I 悔いる to say, monsieur, I have forgotten my pocketbook. Perhaps, on the strength of my 指名する, you will be pleased to give me credit for a few days. I am Arsène Lupin."

The proprietor looked at him, thinking he was joking. But Arsène repeated:

"Lupin, 囚人 at the Santé, but now a 逃亡者／はかないもの. I 投機・賭ける to assume that the 指名する 奮起させるs you with perfect 信用／信任 in me."

And he walked away, まっただ中に shouts of laughter, whilst the proprietor stood amazed.

Lupin strolled along the rue Soufflot, and turned into the rue Saint Jacques. He 追求するd his way slowly, smoking his cigarettes and looking into the shop-windows. At the Boulevard de Port 王室の he took his bearings, discovered where he was, and then walked in the direction of the rue de la Santé. The high forbidding 塀で囲むs of the 刑務所，拘置所 were now before him. He pulled his hat 今後 to shade his 直面する; then, approaching the sentinel, he asked:

"Is this the 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé?"

"Yes."

"I wish to 回復する my 独房. The 先頭 left me on the way, and I would not 乱用—"

"Now, young man, move along—quick!" growled the sentinel.

"容赦 me, but I must pass through that gate. And if you 妨げる Arsène Lupin from entering the 刑務所，拘置所 it will cost you dear, my friend."

"Arsène Lupin! What are you talking about!"

"I am sorry I 港／避難所't a card with me," said Arsène, fumbling in his pockets.

The sentinel 注目する，もくろむd him from 長，率いる to foot, in astonishment. Then, without a word, he rang a bell. The アイロンをかける gate was partly opened, and Arsène stepped inside. Almost すぐに he 遭遇（する）d the keeper of the 刑務所，拘置所, gesticulating and feigning a violent 怒り／怒る. Arsène smiled and said:

"Come, monsieur, don't play that game with me. What! they take the 警戒 to carry me alone in the 先頭, 準備する a nice little obstruction, and imagine I am going to take to my heels and 再結合させる my friends. 井戸／弁護士席, and what about the twenty スパイ／執行官s of the S?eté who …を伴ってd us on foot, in fiacres and on bicycles? No, the 協定 did not please me. I should not have got away alive. Tell me, monsieur, did they count on that?"

He shrugged his shoulders, and 追加するd:

"I beg of you, monsieur, not to worry about me. When I wish to escape I shall not 要求する any 援助."

* * *

On the second day thereafter, the "Echo de フラン," which had 明らかに become the 公式の／役人 reporter of the 偉業／利用するs of Arsène Lupin,—it was said that he was one of its 主要な／長／主犯 株主s—published a most 完全にする account of this 試みる／企てるd escape. The exact 言い回し of the messages 交流d between the 囚人 and his mysterious friend, the means by which correspondence was 建設するd, the complicity of the police, the promenade on the Boulevard Saint Michel, the 出来事/事件 at the café Soufflot, everything was 公表する／暴露するd. It was known that the search of the restaurant and its waiters by 視察官 Dieuzy had been fruitless. And the public also learned an 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の thing which 論証するd the infinite variety of 資源s that Lupin 所有するd: the 刑務所，拘置所-先頭, in which he was 存在 carried, was 用意が出来ている for the occasion and 代用品，人d by his 共犯者s for one of the six 先頭s which did service at the 刑務所，拘置所.

* * *

The next escape of Arsène Lupin was not 疑問d by anyone. He 発表するd it himself, in categorical 条件, in a reply to Mon. Bouvier on the day に引き続いて his 試みる／企てるd escape. The 裁判官 having made a jest about the 事件／事情／状勢, Arsène was annoyed, and, 堅固に 注目する，もくろむing the 裁判官, he said, emphatically:

"Listen to me, monsieur! I give you my word of 栄誉（を受ける） that this 試みる／企てるd flight was 簡単に 予選 to my general 計画（する） of escape."

"I do not understand," said the 裁判官.

"It is not necessary that you should understand."

And when the 裁判官, in the course of that examination which was 報告（する）／憶測d at length in the columns of the "Echo de フラン," when the 裁判官 sought to 再開する his 調査, Arsène Lupin exclaimed, with an assumed 空気／公表する of lassitude:

"Mon Dieu, Mon Dieu, what's the use! All these questions are of no importance!"

"What! No importance?" cried the 裁判官.

"No; because I shall not be 現在の at the 裁判，公判."

"You will not be 現在の?"

"No; I have fully decided on that, and nothing will change my mind."

Such 保証／確信 連合させるd with the inexplicable indiscretions that Arsène committed every day served to annoy and mystify the officers of the 法律. There were secrets known only to Arsène Lupin; secrets that he alone could divulge. But for what 目的 did he 明らかにする／漏らす them? And how?

Arsène Lupin was changed to another 独房. The 裁判官 の近くにd his 予選 調査. No その上の 訴訟／進行s were taken in his 事例／患者 for a period of two months, during which time Arsène was seen almost 絶えず lying on his bed with his 直面する turned toward the 塀で囲む. The changing of his 独房 seemed to discourage him. He 辞退するd to see his 支持する. He 交流d only a few necessary words with his keepers.

During the fortnight 先行する his 裁判，公判, he 再開するd his vigorous life. He complained of want of 空気／公表する. その結果, 早期に every morning he was 許すd to 演習 in the 中庭, guarded by two men.

Public curiosity had not died out; every day it 推定する／予想するd to be regaled with news of his escape; and, it is true, he had 伸び（る）d a かなりの 量 of public sympathy by 推論する／理由 of his verve, his gayety, his 多様制, his inventive genius and the mystery of his life. Arsène Lupin must escape. It was his 必然的な 運命／宿命. The public 推定する／予想するd it, and was surprised that the event had been 延期するd so long. Every morning the Préfect of Police asked his 長官:

"井戸／弁護士席, has he escaped yet?"

"No, Monsieur le Préfect."

"To-morrow, probably."

And, on the day before the 裁判，公判, a gentleman called at the office of the "Grand 定期刊行物," asked to see the 法廷，裁判所 reporter, threw his card in the reporter's 直面する, and walked 速く away. These words were written on the card: "Arsène Lupin always keeps his 約束s."

* * *

It was under these 条件s that the 裁判，公判 開始するd. An enormous （人が）群がる gathered at the 法廷，裁判所. Everybody wished to see the famous Arsène Lupin. They had a gleeful 予期 that the 囚人 would play some audacious いたずらs upon the 裁判官. 支持するs and 治安判事s, reporters and men of the world, actresses and society women were （人が）群がるd together on the （法廷の）裁判s 供給するd for the public.

It was a dark, sombre day, with a 安定した downpour of rain. Only a 薄暗い light pervaded the courtroom, and the 観客s caught a very indistinct 見解（をとる） of the 囚人 when the guards brought him in. But his 激しい, shambling walk, the manner in which he dropped into his seat, and his passive, stupid 外見 were not at all prepossessing. Several times his 支持する—one of Mon. Danval's assistants—spoke to him, but he 簡単に shook his 長，率いる and said nothing.

The clerk read the 起訴，告発, then the 裁判官 spoke:

"囚人 at the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業, stand up. Your 指名する, age, and 占領／職業?"

Not receiving any reply, the 裁判官 repeated:

"Your 指名する? I ask you your 指名する?"

A 厚い, slow 発言する／表明する muttered:

"Baudru, Désiré."

A murmur of surprise pervaded the courtroom. But the 裁判官 proceeded:

"Baudru, Désiré? Ah! a new 偽名，通称! 井戸／弁護士席, as you have already assumed a dozen different 指名するs and this one is, no 疑問, as imaginary as the others, we will 固執する to the 指名する of Arsène Lupin, by which you are more 一般に known."

The 裁判官 referred to his 公式文書，認めるs, and continued:

"For, にもかかわらず the most diligent search, your past history remains unknown. Your 事例／患者 is unique in the annals of 罪，犯罪. We know not whom you are, whence you （機の）カム, your birth and 産む／飼育するing—all is a mystery to us. Three years ago you appeared in our 中央 as Arsène Lupin, 現在のing to us a strange combination of 知能 and perversion, immorality and generosity. Our knowledge of your life 事前の to that date is vague and problematical. It may be that the man called Rostat who, eight years ago, worked with Dickson, the prestidigitator, was 非，不，無 other than Arsène Lupin. It is probable that the ロシアの student who, six years ago, …に出席するd the 研究室／実験室 of Doctor Altier at the Saint Louis Hospital, and who often astonished the doctor by the ingenuity of his hypotheses on 支配するs of bacteriology and the boldness of his 実験s in 病気s of the 肌, was 非，不，無 other than Arsène Lupin. It is probable, also, that Arsène Lupin was the professor who introduced the Japanese art of jiu-jitsu to the Parisian public. We have some 推論する／理由 to believe that Arsène Lupin was the bicyclist who won the Grand Prix de l'解説，博覧会, received his ten thousand フランs, and was never heard of again. Arsène Lupin may have been, also, the person who saved so many lives through the little dormer-window at the Charity Bazaar; and, at the same time, 選ぶd their pockets."

The 裁判官 paused for a moment, then continued:

"Such is that 時代 which seems to have been 利用するd by you in a 徹底的な 準備 for the 戦争 you have since 行うd against society; a methodical 見習いの身分制度 in which you developed your strength, energy and 技術 to the highest point possible. Do you 認める the 正確 of these facts?"

During this discourse the 囚人 had stood balancing himself, first on one foot, then on the other, with shoulders stooped and 武器 inert. Under the strongest light one could 観察する his extreme thinness, his hollow cheeks, his 事業／計画（する）ing cheek-bones, his earthen-colored 直面する dotted with small red 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs and でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd in a rough, straggling 耐えるd. 刑務所，拘置所 life had 原因（となる）d him to age and wither. He had lost the youthful 直面する and elegant 人物／姿／数字 we had seen portrayed so often in the newspapers.

It appeared as if he had not heard the question propounded by the 裁判官. Twice it was repeated to him. Then he raised his 注目する，もくろむs, seemed to 反映する, then, making a desperate 成果／努力, he murmured:

"Baudru, Désiré."

The 裁判官 smiled, as he said:

"I do not understand the theory of your 弁護, Arsène Lupin. If you are 捜し出すing to 避ける 責任／義務 for your 罪，犯罪s on the ground of imbecility, such a line of 弁護 is open to you. But I shall proceed with the 裁判，公判 and 支払う／賃金 no 注意する to your vagaries."

He then narrated at length the さまざまな 窃盗s, 搾取するs and 偽造s 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d against Lupin. いつかs he questioned the 囚人, but the latter 簡単に grunted or remained silent. The examination of 証言，証人／目撃するs 開始するd. Some of the 証拠 given was immaterial; other 部分s of it seemed more important, but through all of it there ran a vein of contradictions and inconsistencies. A wearisome obscurity enveloped the 訴訟／進行s, until 探偵，刑事 Ganimard was called as a 証言，証人／目撃する; then 利益／興味 was 生き返らせるd.

From the beginning the 活動／戦闘s of the 退役軍人 探偵，刑事 appeared strange and unaccountable. He was nervous and ill at 緩和する. Several times he looked at the 囚人, with obvious 疑問 and 苦悩. Then, with his 手渡すs 残り／休憩（する）ing on the rail in 前線 of him, he recounted the events in which he had 参加するd, 含むing his 追跡 of the 囚人 across Europe and his arrival in America. He was listened to with 広大な／多数の／重要な avidity, as his 逮捕（する） of Arsène Lupin was 井戸／弁護士席 known to everyone through the medium of the 圧力（をかける）. Toward the の近くに of his 証言, after referring to his conversations with Arsène Lupin, he stopped, twice, embarrassed and 決めかねて. It was 明らかな that he was 所有するd of some thought which he 恐れるd to utter. The 裁判官 said to him, sympathetically:

"If you are ill, you may retire for the 現在の."

"No, no, but—"

He stopped, looked はっきりと at the 囚人, and said:

"I ask 許可 to scrutinize the 囚人 at closer 範囲. There is some mystery about him that I must solve."

He approached the （刑事）被告 man, 診察するd him attentively for several minutes, then returned to the 証言，証人／目撃する-stand, and, in an almost solemn 発言する／表明する, he said:

"I 宣言する, on 誓い, that the 囚人 now before me is not Arsène Lupin."

A 深遠な silence followed the 声明. The 裁判官, nonplused for a moment, exclaimed:

"Ah! What do you mean? That is absurd!"

The 探偵，刑事 continued:

"At first sight there is a 確かな resemblance, but if you carefully consider the nose, the mouth, the hair, the color of 肌, you will see that it is not Arsène Lupin. And the 注目する，もくろむs! Did he ever have those アル中患者 注目する，もくろむs!"

"Come, come, 証言，証人／目撃する! What do you mean? Do you pretend to say that we are trying the wrong man?"

"In my opinion, yes. Arsène Lupin has, in some manner, contrived to put this poor devil in his place, unless this man is a willing 共犯者."

This 劇の dénouement 原因（となる）d much laughter and excitement amongst the 観客s. The 裁判官 延期，休会するd the 裁判，公判, and sent for Mon. Bouvier, the gaoler, and guards 雇うd in the 刑務所，拘置所.

When the 裁判，公判 was 再開するd, Mon. Bouvier and the gaoler 診察するd the （刑事）被告 and 宣言するd that there was only a very slight resemblance between the 囚人 and Arsène Lupin.

"井戸／弁護士席, then!" exclaimed the 裁判官, "who is this man? Where does he come from? What is he in 刑務所，拘置所 for?"

Two of the 刑務所，拘置所-guards were called and both of them 宣言するd that the 囚人 was Arsène Lupin. The 裁判官d breathed once more.

But one of the guards then said:

"Yes, yes, I think it is he."

"What!" cried the 裁判官, impatiently, "you think it is he! What do you mean by that?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I saw very little of the 囚人. He was placed in my 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 in the evening and, for two months, he seldom stirred, but lay on his bed with his 直面する to the 塀で囲む."

"What about the time 事前の to those two months?"

"Before that he 占領するd a 独房 in another part of the 刑務所，拘置所. He was not in 独房 24."

Here the 長，率いる gaoler interrupted, and said:

"We changed him to another 独房 after his 試みる／企てるd escape."

"But you, monsieur, you have seen him during those two months?"

"I had no occasion to see him. He was always 静かな and 整然とした."

"And this 囚人 is not Arsène Lupin?"

"No."

"Then who is he?" 需要・要求するd the 裁判官.

"I do not know."

"Then we have before us a man who was 代用品，人d for Arsène Lupin, two months ago. How do you explain that?"

"I cannot."

In 絶対の despair, the 裁判官 turned to the （刑事）被告 and 演説（する）／住所d him in a 懐柔的な トン:

"囚人, can you tell me how, and since when, you became an inmate of the 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé?"

The engaging manner of the 裁判官 was calculated to 武装解除する the 不信 and awaken the understanding of the （刑事）被告 man. He tried to reply. Finally, under clever and gentle 尋問, he 後継するd in でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるing a few phrases from which the に引き続いて story was gleaned: Two months ago he had been taken to the Dép?, 診察するd and 解放（する）d. As he was leaving the building, a 解放する／自由な man, he was 掴むd by two guards and placed in the 刑務所，拘置所-先頭. Since then he had 占領するd 独房 24. He was contented there, plenty to eat, and he slept 井戸／弁護士席—so he did not complain.

All that seemed probable; and, まっただ中に the mirth and excitement of the 観客s, the 裁判官 延期，休会するd the 裁判，公判 until the story could be 調査／捜査するd and 立証するd.

* * *

The に引き続いて facts were at once 設立するd by an examination of the 刑務所，拘置所 記録，記録的な／記録するs: Eight weeks before a man 指名するd Baudru Désiré had slept at the Dép?. He was 解放（する）d the next day, and left the Dép? at two o'clock in the afternoon. On the same day at two o'clock, having been 診察するd for the last time, Arsène Lupin left the Dép? in a 刑務所，拘置所-先頭.

Had the guards made a mistake? Had they been deceived by the resemblance and carelessly 代用品，人d this man for their 囚人?

Another question 示唆するd itself: Had the substitution been arranged in 前進する? In that event Baudru must have been an 共犯者 and must have 原因（となる）d his own 逮捕（する） for the 表明する 目的 of taking Lupin's place. But then, by what 奇蹟 had such a 計画（する）, based on a 一連の improbable chances, been carried to success?

Baudru Désiré was turned over to the anthropological service; they had never seen anything like him. However, they easily traced his past history. He was known at Courbevois, at Asnières and at Levallois. He lived on alms and slept in one of those rag-picker's huts 近づく the 障壁 de Ternes. He had disappeared from there a year ago.

Had he been enticed away by Arsène Lupin? There was no 証拠 to that 影響. And even if that was so, it did not explain the flight of the 囚人. That still remained a mystery. Amongst twenty theories which sought to explain it, not one was 満足な. Of the escape itself, there was no 疑問; an escape that was 理解できない, sensational, in which the public, as 井戸／弁護士席 as the officers of the 法律, could （悪事，秘密などを）発見する a carefully 用意が出来ている 計画（する）, a combination of circumstances marvelously dove-tailed, whereof the dénouement fully 正当化するd the 確信して 予測 of Arsène Lupin: "I shall not be 現在の at my 裁判，公判."

After a month of 患者 調査, the problem remained 未解決の. The poor devil of a Baudru could not be kept in 刑務所，拘置所 無期限に／不明確に, and to place him on 裁判，公判 would be ridiculous. There was no 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 against him. その結果, he was 解放（する）d; but the 長，指導者 of the S?été 解決するd to keep him under 監視. This idea 起こる／始まるd with Ganimard. From his point of 見解（をとる） there was neither complicity nor chance. Baudru was an 器具 upon which Arsène Lupin had played with his 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の 技術. Baudru, when 始める，決める at liberty, would lead them to Arsène Lupin or, at least, to some of his 共犯者s. The two 視察官s, Folenfant and Dieuzy, were 割り当てるd to 補助装置 Ganimard.

* * *

One 霧がかかった morning in January the 刑務所，拘置所 gates opened and Baudru Désiré stepped 前へ／外へ—a 解放する／自由な man. At first he appeared to be やめる embarrassed, and walked like a person who has no 正確な idea whither he is going. He followed the rue de la Santé and the rue Saint Jacques. He stopped in 前線 of an old-着せる／賦与するs shop, 除去するd his jacket and his vest, sold his vest on which he realized a few sous; then, 取って代わるing his jacket, he proceeded on his way. He crossed the Seine. At the Ch穰elet an omnibus passed him. He wished to enter it, but there was no place. The 監査役 advised him to 安全な・保証する a number, so he entered the waiting-room.

Ganimard called to his two assistants, and, without 除去するing his 注目する，もくろむs from the waiting room, he said to them:

"Stop a carriage...no, two. That will be better. I will go with one of you, and we will follow him."

The men obeyed. Yet Baudru did not appear. Ganimard entered the waiting-room. It was empty.

"Idiot that I am!" he muttered, "I forgot there was another 出口."

There was an 内部の 回廊（地帯） 延長するing from the waiting-room to the rue Saint ツバメ. Ganimard 急ぐd through it and arrived just in time to 観察する Baudru upon the 最高の，を越す of the Batignolles-Jardin de Plates omnibus as it was turning the corner of the rue de Rivoli. He ran and caught the omnibus. But he had lost his two assistants. He must continue the 追跡 alone. In his 怒り／怒る he was inclined to 掴む the man by the collar without 儀式. Was it not with premeditation and by means of an ingenious ruse that his pretended imbecile had separated him from his assistants?

He looked at Baudru. The latter was asleep on the （法廷の）裁判, his 長，率いる rolling from 味方する to 味方する, his mouth half-opened, and an incredible 表現 of stupidity on his blotched 直面する. No, such an adversary was incapable of deceiving old Ganimard. It was a 一打／打撃 of luck—nothing more.

At the Galleries-Lafayette, the man leaped from the omnibus and took the La Muette tramway, に引き続いて the boulevard Haussmann and the avenue 勝利者 Hugo. Baudru alighted at La Muette 駅／配置する; and, with a nonchalant 空気／公表する, strolled into the Bois de Boulogne.

He wandered through one path after another, and いつかs retraced his steps. What was he 捜し出すing? Had he any 限定された 反対する? At the end of an hour, he appeared to be faint from 疲労，（軍の）雑役, and, noticing a （法廷の）裁判, he sat 負かす／撃墜する. The 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, not far from Auteuil, on the 辛勝する／優位 of a pond hidden amongst the trees, was 絶対 砂漠d. After the lapse of another half-hour, Ganimard became impatient and 解決するd to speak to the man. He approached and took a seat beside Baudru, lighted a cigarette, traced some 人物／姿／数字s in the sand with the end of his 茎, and said:

"It's a pleasant day."

No 返答. But, suddenly the man burst into laughter, a happy, mirthful laugh, spontaneous and irresistible. Ganimard felt his hair stand on end in horror and surprise. It was that laugh, that infernal laugh he knew so 井戸／弁護士席!

With a sudden movement, he 掴むd the man by the collar and looked at him with a keen, 侵入するing gaze; and 設立する that he no longer saw the man Baudru. To be sure, he saw Baudru; but, at the same time, he saw the other, the real man, Lupin. He discovered the 激しい life in the 注目する，もくろむs, he filled up the shrunken features, he perceived the real flesh beneath the flabby 肌, the real mouth through the grimaces that deformed it. Those were the 注目する，もくろむs and mouth of the other, and 特に his keen, 警報, mocking 表現, so （疑いを）晴らす and youthful!

"Arsène Lupin, Arsène Lupin," he stammered.

Then, in a sudden fit of 激怒（する）, he 掴むd Lupin by the throat and tried to 持つ／拘留する him 負かす／撃墜する. In spite of his fifty years, he still 所有するd unusual strength, whilst his adversary was 明らかに in a weak 条件. But the struggle was a 簡潔な／要約する one. Arsène Lupin made only a slight movement, and, as suddenly as he had made the attack, Ganimard 解放（する）d his 持つ／拘留する. His 権利 arm fell inert, useless.

"If you had taken lessons in jiu-jitsu at the quai des Orfèvres," said Lupin, "you would know that that blow is called udi-shi-ghi in Japanese. A second more, and I would have broken your arm and that would have been just what you deserve. I am surprised that you, an old friend whom I 尊敬（する）・点 and before whom I 任意に expose my incognito, should 乱用 my 信用／信任 in that violent manner. It is unworthy—Ah! What's the 事柄?"

Ganimard did not reply. That escape for which he みなすd himself responsible—was it not he, Ganimard, who, by his sensational 証拠, had led the 法廷，裁判所 into serious error? That escape appeared to him like a dark cloud on his professional career. A 涙／ほころび rolled 負かす／撃墜する his cheek to his gray moustache.

"Oh! Mon Dieu, Ganimard, don't take it to heart. If you had not spoken, I would have arranged for some one else to do it. I couldn't 許す poor Baudru Désiré to be 罪人／有罪を宣告するd."

"Then," murmured Ganimard, "it was you that was there? And now you are here?"

"It is I, always I, only I."

"Can it be possible?"

"Oh, it is not the work of a sorcerer. 簡単に, as the 裁判官 発言／述べるd at the 裁判，公判, the 見習いの身分制度 of a dozen years that 用意するs a man to 対処する 首尾よく with all the 障害s in life."

"But your 直面する? Your 注目する，もくろむs?"

"You can understand that if I worked eighteen months with Doctor Altier at the Saint-Louis hospital, it was not out of love for the work. I considered that he, who would one day have the 栄誉（を受ける） of calling himself Arsène Lupin, せねばならない be 免除された from the ordinary 法律s 治める／統治するing 外見 and 身元. 外見? That can be 修正するd at will. For instance, a hypodermic 注射 of paraffine will puff up the 肌 at the 願望（する）d 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. Pyrogallic 酸性の will change your 肌 to that of an Indian. The juice of the greater celandine will adorn you with the most beautiful 爆発s and tumors. Another 化学製品 影響する／感情s the growth of your 耐えるd and hair; another changes the トン of your 発言する／表明する. 追加する to that two months of dieting in 独房 24; 演習s repeated a thousand times to enable me to 持つ／拘留する my features in a 確かな grimace, to carry my 長，率いる at a 確かな inclination, and adapt my 支援する and shoulders to a stooping posture. Then five 減少（する）s of atropine in the 注目する，もくろむs to make them haggard and wild, and the trick is done."

"I do not understand how you deceived the guards."

"The change was 進歩／革新的な. The 進化 was so 漸進的な that they failed to notice it."

"But Baudru Désiré?"

"Baudru 存在するs. He is a poor, 害のない fellow whom I met last year; and, really, he 耐えるs a 確かな resemblance to me. Considering my 逮捕（する） as a possible event, I took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of Baudru and 熟考する／考慮するd the points wherein we 異なるd in 外見 with a 見解（をとる） to 訂正する them in my own person. My friends 原因（となる）d him to remain at the Dép? 夜通し, and to leave there next day about the same hour as I did—a coincidence easily arranged. Of course, it was necessary to have a 記録，記録的な／記録する of his 拘留，拘置 at the Dép? in order to 設立する the fact that such a person was a reality; さもなければ, the police would have sought どこかよそで to find out my 身元. But, in 申し込む／申し出ing to them this excellent Baudru, it was 必然的な, you understand, 必然的な that they would 掴む upon him, and, にもかかわらず the insurmountable difficulties of a substitution, they would prefer to believe in a substitution than 自白する their ignorance."

"Yes, yes, of course," said Ganimard.

"And then," exclaimed Arsène Lupin, "I held in my 手渡すs a trump-card: an anxious public watching and waiting for my escape. And that is the 致命的な error into which you fell, you and the others, in the course of that fascinating game 未解決の between me and the officers of the 法律 wherein the 火刑／賭ける was my liberty. And you supposed that I was playing to the gallery; that I was intoxicated with my success. I, Arsène Lupin, 有罪の of such 証拠不十分! Oh, no! And, no longer ago than the Cahorn 事件／事情／状勢, you said: 'When Arsène Lupin cries from the housetops that he will escape, he has some 反対する in 見解（をとる）.' But, sapristi, you must understand that ーするために escape I must create, in 前進する, a public belief in that escape, a belief 量ing to an article of 約束, an 絶対の 有罪の判決, a reality as glittering as the sun. And I did create that belief that Arsène Lupin would escape, that Arsène Lupin would not be 現在の at his 裁判，公判. And when you gave your 証拠 and said: 'That man is not Arsène Lupin,' everybody was 用意が出来ている to believe you. Had one person 疑問d it, had any one uttered this simple 制限: Suppose it is Arsène Lupin?—from that moment, I was lost. If anyone had scrutinized my 直面する, not imbued with the idea that I was not Arsène Lupin, as you and the others did at my 裁判，公判, but with the idea that I might be Arsène Lupin; then, にもかかわらず all my 警戒s, I should have been 認めるd. But I had no 恐れる. 論理（学）上, psychologically, no once could entertain the idea that I was Arsène Lupin."

He しっかり掴むd Ganimard's 手渡す.

"Come, Ganimard, 自白する that on the Wednesday after our conversation in the 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé, you 推定する／予想するd me at your house at four o'clock, 正確に／まさに as I said I would go."

"And your 刑務所，拘置所-先頭?" said Ganimard, 避けるing the question.

"A bluff! Some of my friends 安全な・保証するd that old 未使用の 先頭 and wished to make the 試みる／企てる. But I considered it impractical without the concurrence of a number of unusual circumstances. However, I 設立する it useful to carry out that 試みる／企てるd escape and give it the widest publicity. An audaciously planned escape, though not 完全にするd, gave to the 後継するing one the character of reality 簡単に by 予期."

"So that the cigar..."

"Hollowed by myself, 同様に as the knife."

"And the letters?"

"Written by me."

"And the mysterious 特派員?"

"Did not 存在する."

Ganimard 反映するd a moment, then said:

"When the anthropological service had Baudru's 事例／患者 under consideration, why did they not perceive that his 測定s 同時に起こる／一致するd with those of Arsène Lupin?"

"My 測定s are not in 存在."

"Indeed!"

"At least, they are 誤った. I have given かなりの attention to that question. In the first place, the Bertillon system of 記録，記録的な／記録するs the 明白な 示すs of 身元確認，身分証明—and you have seen that they are not infallible—and, after that, the 測定s of the 長，率いる, the fingers, the ears, etc. Of course, such 測定s are more or いっそう少なく infallible."

"絶対."

"No; but it costs money to get around them. Before we left America, one of the 従業員s of the service there 受託するd so much money to 挿入する 誤った 人物／姿／数字s in my 測定s. その結果, Baudru's 測定s should not agree with those of Arsène Lupin."

After a short silence, Ganimard asked:

"What are you going to do now?"

"Now," replied Lupin, "I am going to take a 残り／休憩（する）, enjoy the best of food and drink and 徐々に 回復する my former healthy 条件. It is all very 井戸／弁護士席 to become Baudru or some other person, on occasion, and to change your personality as you do your shirt, but you soon grow 疲れた／うんざりした of the change. I feel 正確に／まさに as I imagine the man who lost his 影をつくる／尾行する must have felt, and I shall be glad to be Arsène Lupin once more."

He walked to and fro for a few minutes, then, stopping in 前線 of Ganimard, he said:

"You have nothing more to say, I suppose?"

"Yes. I should like to know if you ーするつもりである to 明らかにする／漏らす the true 明言する／公表する of facts connected with your escape. The mistake that I made—"

"Oh! no one will ever know that it was Arsène Lupin who was 発射する／解雇するd. It is to my own 利益／興味 to surround myself with mystery, and therefore I shall 許す my escape to 保持する its almost miraculous character. So, have no 恐れる on that 得点する／非難する／２０, my dear friend. I shall say nothing. And now, good-bye. I am going out to dinner this evening, and have only 十分な time to dress."

"I though you 手配中の，お尋ね者 a 残り／休憩（する）."

"Ah! there are 義務s to society that one cannot 避ける. To-morrow, I shall 残り／休憩（する）."

"Where do you dine to-night?"

"With the British 外交官／大使!"

4. The Mysterious 旅行者

The evening before, I had sent my automobile to Rouen by the 主要道路. I was to travel to Rouen by rail, on my way to visit some friends that live on the banks of the Seine.

At Paris, a few minutes before the train started, seven gentlemen entered my compartment; five of them were smoking. No 事柄 that the 旅行 was a short one, the thought of traveling with such a company was not agreeable to me, 特に as the car was built on the old model, without a 回廊（地帯）. I 選ぶd up my overcoat, my newspapers and my time-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and sought 避難 in a 隣接地の compartment.

It was 占領するd by a lady, who, at sight of me, made a gesture of annoyance that did not escape my notice, and she leaned toward a gentleman who was standing on the step and was, no 疑問, her husband. The gentleman scrutinized me closely, and, 明らかに, my 外見 did not displease him, for he smiled as he spoke to his wife with the 空気／公表する of one who 安心させるs a 脅すd child. She smiled also, and gave me a friendly ちらりと見ること as if she now understood that I was one of those gallant men with whom a woman can remain shut up for two hours in a little box, six feet square, and have nothing to 恐れる.

Her husband said to her:

"I have an important 任命, my dear, and cannot wait any longer. Adieu."

He kissed her affectionately and went away. His wife threw him a few kisses and waved her handkerchief. The whistle sounded, and the train started.

At that 正確な moment, and にもかかわらず the 抗議するs of the guards, the door was opened, and a man 急ぐd into our compartment. My companion, who was standing and arranging her luggage, uttered a cry of terror and fell upon the seat. I am not a coward—far from it—but I 自白する that such 侵入占拠s at the last minute are always disconcerting. They have a 怪しげな, unnatural 面.

However, the 外見 of the new arrival 大いに 修正するd the unfavorable impression produced by his precipitant 活動／戦闘. He was 正確に and elegantly dressed, wore a tasteful cravat, 訂正する gloves, and his 直面する was 精製するd and intelligent. But, where the devil had I seen that 直面する before? Because, beyond all possible 疑問, I had seen it. And yet the memory of it was so vague and indistinct that I felt it would be useless to try to 解任する it at that time.

Then, directing my attention to the lady, I was amazed at the pallor and 苦悩 I saw in her 直面する. She was looking at her neighbor—they 占領するd seats on the same 味方する of the compartment—with an 表現 of 激しい alarm, and I perceived that one of her trembling 手渡すs was slowly gliding toward a little traveling 捕らえる、獲得する that was lying on the seat about twenty インチs from her. She finished by 掴むing it and nervously 製図／抽選 it to her. Our 注目する，もくろむs met, and I read in hers so much 苦悩 and 恐れる that I could not 差し控える from speaking to her:

"Are you ill, madame? Shall I open the window?"

Her only reply was a gesture 示すing that she was afraid of our companion. I smiled, as her husband had done, shrugged my shoulders, and explained to her, in pantomime, that she had nothing to 恐れる, that I was there, and, besides, the gentleman appeared to be a very 害のない individual. At that moment, he turned toward us, scrutinized both of us from 長，率いる to foot, then settled 負かす／撃墜する in his corner and paid us no more attention.

After a short silence, the lady, as if she had 召集（する）d all her energy to 成し遂げる a desperate 行為／法令／行動する, said to me, in an almost inaudible 発言する／表明する:

"Do you know who is on our train?"

"Who?"

"He...he...I 保証する you..."

"Who is he?"

"Arsène Lupin!"

She had not taken her 注目する，もくろむs off our companion, and it was to him rather than to me that she uttered the syllables of that disquieting 指名する. He drew his hat over his 直面する. Was that to 隠す his agitation or, 簡単に, to arrange himself for sleep? Then I said to her:

"Yesterday, through contumacy, Arsène Lupin was 宣告，判決d to twenty years' 監禁，拘置 at hard labor. Therefore it is improbable that he would be so imprudent, to-day, as to show himself in public. Moreover, the newspapers have 発表するd his 外見 in Turkey since his escape from the Santé."

"But he is on this train at the 現在の moment," the lady 布告するd, with the obvious 意向 of 存在 heard by our companion; "my husband is one of the directors in the 刑務所 service, and it was the stationmaster himself who told us that a search was 存在 made for Arsène Lupin."

"They may have been mistaken—"

"No; he was seen in the waiting-room. He bought a first-class ticket for Rouen."

"He has disappeared. The guard at the waiting-room door did not see him pass, and it is supposed that he had got into the 表明する that leaves ten minutes after us."

"In that 事例／患者, they will be sure to catch him."

"Unless, at the last moment, he leaped from that train to come here, into our train...which is やめる probable...which is almost 確かな ."

"If so, he will be 逮捕（する）d just the same; for the 従業員s and guards would no 疑問 観察する his passage from one train to the other, and, when we arrive at Rouen, they will 逮捕（する） him there."

"Him—never! He will find some means of escape."

"In that 事例／患者, I wish him 'bon voyage.'"

"But, in the 合間, think what he may do!"

"What?"

"I don't know. He may do anything."

She was 大いに agitated, and, truly, the 状況／情勢 正当化するd, to some extent, her nervous excitement. I was impelled to say to her:

"Of course, there are many strange coincidences, but you need have no 恐れる. Admitting that Arsène Lupin is on this train, he will not commit any indiscretion; he will be only too happy to escape the 危険，危なくする that already 脅すs him."

My words did not 安心させる her, but she remained silent for a time. I 広げるd my newspapers and read 報告（する）／憶測s of Arsène Lupin's 裁判，公判, but, as they 含む／封じ込めるd nothing that was new to me, I was not 大いに 利益／興味d. Moreover, I was tired and sleepy. I felt my eyelids の近くに and my 長，率いる 減少（する）.

"But, monsieur, you are not going to sleep!"

She 掴むd my newspaper, and looked at me with indignation.

"Certainly not," I said.

"That would be very imprudent."

"Of course," I assented.

I struggled to keep awake. I looked through the window at the landscape and the (n)艦隊／(a)素早いing clouds, but in a short time all that became 混乱させるd and indistinct; the image of the nervous lady and the drowsy gentleman were effaced from my memory, and I was buried in the soothing depths of a 深遠な sleep. The tranquility of my 返答 was soon 乱すd by disquieting dreams, wherein a creature that had played the part and bore the 指名する of Arsène Lupin held an important place. He appeared to me with his 支援する laden with articles of value; he leaped over 塀で囲むs, and plundered 城s. But the 輪郭（を描く）s of that creature, who was no longer Arsène Lupin, assumed a more 限定された form. He （機の）カム toward me, growing larger and larger, leaped into the compartment with incredible agility, and landed squarely on my chest. With a cry of fright and 苦痛, I awoke. The man, the 旅行者, our companion, with his 膝 on my breast, held me by the throat.

My sight was very indistinct, for my 注目する，もくろむs were suffused with 血. I could see the lady, in a corner of the compartment, convulsed with fright. I tried even not to resist. Besides, I did not have the strength. My 寺s throbbed; I was almost strangled. One minute more, and I would have breathed my last. The man must have realized it, for he relaxed his 支配する, but did not 除去する his 手渡す. Then he took a cord, in which he had 用意が出来ている a slip-knot, and tied my wrists together. In an instant, I was bound, gagged, and helpless.

Certainly, he 遂行するd the trick with an 緩和する and 技術 that 明らかにする／漏らすd the 手渡す of a master; he was, no 疑問, a professional どろぼう. Not a word, not a nervous movement; only coolness and audacity. And I was there, lying on the （法廷の）裁判, bound like a mummy, I—Arsène Lupin!

It was anything but a laughing 事柄, and yet, にもかかわらず the gravity of the 状況／情勢, I 熱心に 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd the humor and irony that it 伴う／関わるd. Arsène Lupin 掴むd and bound like a novice! robbed as if I were an unsophisticated rustic—for, you must understand, the scoundrel had 奪うd me of my purse and wallet! Arsène Lupin, a 犠牲者, duped, vanquished...What an adventure!

The lady did not move. He did not even notice her. He contented himself with 選ぶing up her traveling-捕らえる、獲得する that had fallen to the 床に打ち倒す and taking from it the jewels, purse, and gold and silver trinkets that it 含む／封じ込めるd. The lady opened her 注目する，もくろむs, trembled with 恐れる, drew the （犯罪の）一味s from her fingers and 手渡すd them to the man as if she wished to spare him unnecessary trouble. He took the （犯罪の）一味s and looked at her. She swooned.

Then, やめる unruffled, he 再開するd his seat, lighted a cigarette, and proceeded to 診察する the treasure that he had acquired. The examination appeared to give him perfect satisfaction.

But I was not so 井戸／弁護士席 満足させるd. I do not speak of the twelve thousand フランs of which I had been unduly 奪うd: that was only a 一時的な loss, because I was 確かな that I would 回復する 所有／入手 of that money after a very 簡潔な／要約する 延期する, together with the important papers 含む／封じ込めるd in my wallet: 計画（する）s, specifications, 演説（する）／住所s, 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）s of 特派員s, and 妥協ing letters. But, for the moment, a more 即座の and more serious question troubled me: How would this 事件／事情／状勢 end? What would be the 結果 of this adventure?

As you can imagine, the 騒動 created by my passage through the Saint-Lazare 駅／配置する has not escaped my notice. Going to visit friends who knew me under the 指名する of Guillaume Berlat, and amongst whom my resemblance to Arsène Lupin was a 支配する of many innocent jests, I could not assume a disguise, and my presence had been 発言／述べるd. So, beyond question, the commissary of police at Rouen, 通知するd by telegraph, and 補助装置d by 非常に／多数の スパイ／執行官s, would be を待つing the train, would question all 怪しげな 乗客s, and proceed to search the cars.

Of course, I had foreseen all that, but it had not 乱すd me, as I was 確かな that the police of Rouen would not be any shrewder than the police of Paris and that I could escape 承認; would it not be 十分な for me to carelessly 陳列する，発揮する my card as "député," thanks to which I had 奮起させるd 完全にする 信用／信任 in the gate-keeper at Saint-Lazare?—But the 状況／情勢 was 大いに changed. I was no longer 解放する／自由な. It was impossible to 試みる／企てる one of my usual tricks. In one of the compartments, the commissary of police would find Mon. Arsène Lupin, bound 手渡す and foot, as docile as a lamb, packed up, all ready to be 捨てるd into a 刑務所，拘置所-先頭. He would have 簡単に to 受託する 配達／演説／出産 of the 小包, the same as if it were so much 商品／売買する or a basket of fruit and vegetables. Yet, to 避ける that shameful dénouement, what could I do?—bound and gagged, as I was? And the train was 急ぐing on toward Rouen, the next and only 駅／配置する.

Another problem was 現在のd, in which I was いっそう少なく 利益／興味d, but the 解答 of which 誘発するd my professional curiosity. What were the 意向s of my rascally companion? Of course, if I had been alone, he could, on our arrival at Rouen, leave the car slowly and fearlessly. But the lady? As soon as the door of the compartment should be opened, the lady, now so 静かな and humble, would 叫び声をあげる and call for help. That was the 窮地 that perplexed me! Why had he not 減ずるd her to a helpless 条件 類似の to 地雷? That would have given him ample time to disappear before his 二塁打 罪，犯罪 was discovered.

He was still smoking, with his 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd upon the window that was now 存在 streaked with 減少（する）s of rain. Once he turned, 選ぶd up my time-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and 協議するd it.

The lady had to feign a continued 欠如（する） of consciousness in order to deceive the enemy. But fits of coughing, 刺激するd by the smoke, exposed her true 条件. As to me, I was very uncomfortable, and very tired. And I meditated; I plotted.

The train was 急ぐing on, joyously, intoxicated with its own 速度(を上げる）.

Saint Etienne!...At that moment, the man arose and took two steps toward us, which 原因（となる）d the lady to utter a cry of alarm and 落ちる into a 本物の swoon. What was the man about to do? He lowered the window on our 味方する. A 強い雨 was now 落ちるing, and, by a gesture, the man 表明するd his annoyance at his not having an umbrella or an overcoat. He ちらりと見ることd at the rack. The lady's umbrella was there. He took it. He also took my overcoat and put it on.

We were now crossing the Seine. He turned up the 底（に届く）s of his trousers, then leaned over and raised the exterior latch of the door. Was he going to throw himself upon the 跡をつける? At that 速度(を上げる）, it would have been instant death. We now entered a tunnel. The man opened the door half-way and stood on the upper step. What folly! The 不明瞭, the smoke, the noise, all gave a fantastic 外見 to his 活動／戦闘s. But suddenly, the train 減らすd its 速度(を上げる）. A moment later it 増加するd its 速度(を上げる）, then slowed up again. Probably, some 修理s were 存在 made in that part of the tunnel which 強いるd the trains to 減らす their 速度(を上げる）, and the man was aware of the fact. He すぐに stepped 負かす／撃墜する to the lower step, の近くにd the door behind him, and leaped to the ground. He was gone.

The lady すぐに 回復するd her wits, and her first 行為／法令／行動する was to lament the loss of her jewels. I gave her an imploring look. She understood, and quickly 除去するd the gag that stifled me. She wished to untie the cords that bound me, but I 妨げるd her.

"No, no, the police must see everything 正確に／まさに as it stands. I want them to see what the rascal did to us."

"Suppose I pull the alarm-bell?"

"Too late. You should have done that when he made the attack on me."

"But he would have killed me. Ah! monsieur, didn't I tell you that he was on this train. I 認めるd him from his portrait. And now he has gone off with my jewels."

"Don't worry. The police will catch him."

"Catch Arsène Lupin! Never."

"That depends on you, madame. Listen. When we arrive at Rouen, be at the door and call. Make a noise. The police and the 鉄道 従業員s will come. Tell what you have seen: the 強襲，強姦 made on me and the flight of Arsène Lupin. Give a description of him—soft hat, umbrella—yours—gray overcoat..."

"Yours," said she.

"What! 地雷? Not at all. It was his. I didn't have any."

"It seems to me he didn't have one when he （機の）カム in."

"Yes, yes...unless the coat was one that some one had forgotten and left in the rack. At all events, he had it when he went away, and that is the 必須の point. A gray overcoat—remember!...Ah! I forgot. You must tell your 指名する, first thing you do. Your husband's 公式の／役人 position will 刺激する the zeal of the police."

We arrived at the 駅／配置する. I gave her some その上の 指示／教授／教育s in a rather imperious トン:

"Tell them my 指名する—Guillaume Berlat. If necessary, say that you know me. That will save time. We must 促進する the 予選 調査. The important thing is the 追跡 of Arsène Lupin. Your jewels, remember! Let there be no mistake. Guillaume Berlat, a friend of your husband."

"I understand...Guillaume Berlat."

She was already calling and gesticulating. As soon as the train stopped, several men entered the compartment. The 批判的な moment had come.

Panting for breath, the lady exclaimed:

"Arsène Lupin...he attacked us...he stole my jewels...I am Madame Renaud...my husband is a director of the 刑務所 service...Ah! here is my brother, Georges Ardelle, director of the Crédit Rouennais...you must know..."

She embraced a young man who had just joined us, and whom the commissary saluted. Then she continued, weeping:

"Yes, Arsène Lupin...while monsieur was sleeping, he 掴むd him by the throat...Mon. Berlat, a friend of my husband."

The commissary asked:

"But where is Arsène Lupin?"

"He leaped from the train, when passing through the tunnel."

"Are you sure that it was he?"

"Am I sure! I 認めるd him perfectly. Besides, he was seen at the Saint-Lazare 駅／配置する. He wore a soft hat—"

"No, a hard felt, like that," said the commissary, pointing to my hat.

"He had a soft hat, I am sure," repeated Madame Renaud, "and a gray overcoat."

"Yes, that is 権利," replied the commissary, "the 電報電信 says he wore a gray overcoat with a 黒人／ボイコット velvet collar."

"正確に／まさに, a 黒人／ボイコット velvet collar," exclaimed Madame Renaud, triumphantly.

I breathed 自由に. Ah! the excellent friend I had in that little woman.

The police スパイ／執行官s had now 解放（する）d me. I bit my lips until they ran 血. Stooping over, with my handkerchief over my mouth, an 態度 やめる natural in a person who has remained for a long time in an uncomfortable position, and whose mouth shows the 血まみれの 示すs of the gag, I 演説（する）／住所d the commissary, in a weak 発言する／表明する:

"Monsieur, it was Arsène Lupin. There is no 疑問 about that. If we make haste, he can be caught yet. I think I may be of some service to you."

The 鉄道 car, in which the 罪，犯罪 occurred, was detached from the train to serve as a mute 証言，証人／目撃する at the 公式の／役人 調査. The train continued on its way to Havre. We were then 行為／行うd to the 駅／配置する-master's office through a （人が）群がる of curious 観客s.

Then, I had a sudden 接近 of 疑問 and discretion. Under some pretext or other, I must 伸び（る） my automobile, and escape. To remain there was dangerous. Something might happen; for instance, a 電報電信 from Paris, and I would be lost.

Yes, but what about my どろぼう? Abandoned to my own 資源s, in an unfamiliar country, I could not hope to catch him.

"Bah! I must make the 試みる／企てる," I said to myself. "It may be a difficult game, but an amusing one, and the 火刑／賭ける is 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） the trouble."

And when the commissary asked us to repeat the story of the 強盗, I exclaimed:

"Monsieur, really, Arsène Lupin is getting the start of us. My automobile is waiting in the 中庭. If you will be so 肉親，親類d as to use it, we can try..."

The commissary smiled, and replied:

"The idea is a good one; so good, indeed, that it is already 存在 carried out. Two of my men have 始める，決める out on bicycles. They have been gone for some time."

"Where did they go?"

"To the 入り口 of the tunnel. There, they will gather 証拠, 安全な・保証する 証言，証人／目撃するs, and follow on the 跡をつける of Arsène Lupin."

I could not 差し控える from shrugging my shoulders, as I replied:

"Your men will not 安全な・保証する any 証拠 or any 証言，証人／目撃するs."

"Really!"

"Arsène Lupin will not 許す anyone to see him 現れる from the tunnel. He will take the first road—"

"To Rouen, where we will 逮捕（する） him."

"He will not go to Rouen."

"Then he will remain in the 周辺, where his 逮捕（する） will be even more 確かな ."

"He will not remain in the 周辺."

"Oh! oh! And where will he hide?"

I looked at my watch, and said:

"At the 現在の moment, Arsène Lupin is prowling around the 駅／配置する at Darnétal. At ten fifty, that is, in twenty-two minutes from now, he will take the train that goes from Rouen to Amiens."

"Do you think so? How do you know it?"

"Oh! it is やめる simple. While we were in the car, Arsène Lupin 協議するd my 鉄道 guide. Why did he do it? Was there, not far from the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where he disappeared, another line of 鉄道, a 駅／配置する upon that line, and a train stopping at that 駅／配置する? On 協議するing my 鉄道 guide, I 設立する such to be the 事例／患者."

"Really, monsieur," said the commissary, "that is a marvelous deduction. I congratulate you on your 技術."

I was now 納得させるd that I had made a mistake in 陳列する，発揮するing so much cleverness. The commissary regarded me with astonishment, and I thought a slight 疑惑 entered his 公式の／役人 mind...Oh! scarcely that, for the photographs 分配するd broadcast by the police department were too imperfect; they 現在のd an Arsène Lupin so different from the one he had before him, that he could not かもしれない 認める me by it. But, all the same, he was troubled, 混乱させるd and ill-at-緩和する.

"Mon Dieu! nothing 刺激するs the comprehension so much as the loss of a pocketbook and the 願望（する） to 回復する it. And it seems to me that if you will give me two of your men, we may be able..."

"Oh! I beg of you, monsieur le commissaire," cried Madame Renaud, "listen to Mon. Berlat."

The 介入 of my excellent friend was 決定的な. Pronounced by her, the wife of an 影響力のある 公式の／役人, the 指名する of Berlat became really my own, and gave me an 身元 that no mere 疑惑 could 影響する／感情. The commissary arose, and said:

"Believe me, Monsieur Berlat, I shall be delighted to see you 後継する. I am as much 利益／興味d as you are in the 逮捕（する） of Arsène Lupin."

He …を伴ってd me to the automobile, and introduced two of his men, 栄誉（を受ける）é Massol and Gaston Delivet, who were 割り当てるd to 補助装置 me. My chauffer cranked up the car and I took my place at the wheel. A few seconds later, we left the 駅／配置する. I was saved.

Ah! I must 自白する that in rolling over the boulevards that surrounded the old Norman city, in my swift thirty-five horse-力／強力にする Moreau-Lepton, I experienced a 深い feeling of pride, and the モーター 答える／応じるd, sympathetically to my 願望（する）s. At 権利 and left, the trees flew past us with startling rapidity, and I, 解放する／自由な, out of danger, had 簡単に to arrange my little personal 事件／事情／状勢s with the two honest 代表者／国会議員s of the Rouen police who were sitting behind me. Arsène Lupin was going in search of Arsène Lupin!

Modest 後見人s of social order—Gaston Delivet and 栄誉（を受ける）é Massol—how 価値のある was your 援助! What would I have done without you? Without you, many times, at the cross-roads, I might have taken the wrong 大勝する! Without you, Arsène Lupin would have made a mistake, and the other would have escaped!

But the end was not yet. Far from it. I had yet to 逮捕（する） the どろぼう and 回復する the stolen papers. Under no circumstances must my two acolytes be permitted to see those papers, much いっそう少なく to 掴む them. That was a point that might give me some difficulty.

We arrived at Darnétal three minutes after the 出発 of the train. True, I had the なぐさみ of learning that a man wearing a gray overcoat with a 黒人／ボイコット velvet collar had taken the train at the 駅／配置する. He had bought a second-class ticket for Amiens. Certainly, my début as 探偵，刑事 was a 約束ing one.

Delivet said to me:

"The train is 表明する, and the next stop is Montérolier-Buchy in nineteen minutes. If we do not reach there before Arsène Lupin, he can proceed to Amiens, or change for the train going to Clères, and, from that point, reach Dieppe or Paris."

"How far to Montérolier?"

"Twenty-three kilometres."

"Twenty-three kilometres in nineteen minutes...We will be there ahead of him."

We were off again! Never had my faithful Moreau-Repton 答える／応じるd to my impatience with such ardor and regularity. It 参加するd in my 苦悩. It indorsed my 決意. It comprehended my animosity against that rascally Arsène Lupin. The knave! The 反逆者!

"Turn to the 権利," cried Delivet, "then to the left."

We 公正に／かなり flew, scarcely touching the ground. The mile-石／投石するs looked like little timid beasts that 消えるd at our approach. Suddenly, at a turn of the road, we saw a vortex of smoke. It was the Northern 表明する. For a kilometre, it was a struggle, 味方する by 味方する, but an unequal struggle in which the 問題／発行する was 確かな . We won the race by twenty lengths.

In three seconds we were on the 壇・綱領・公約 standing before the second-class carriages. The doors were opened, and some 乗客s alighted, but not my どろぼう. We made a search through the compartments. No 調印する of Arsène Lupin.

"Sapristi!" I cried, "he must have 認めるd me in the automobile as we were racing, 味方する by 味方する, and he leaped from the train."

"Ah! there he is now! crossing the 跡をつける."

I started in 追跡 of the man, followed by my two acolytes, or rather followed by one of them, for the other, Massol, 証明するd himself to be a 走者 of exceptional 速度(を上げる） and endurance. In a few moments, he had made an appreciable 伸び（る） upon the 逃亡者／はかないもの. The man noticed it, leaped over a hedge, scampered across a meadow, and entered a 厚い grove. When we reached this grove, Massol was waiting for us. He went no さらに先に, for 恐れる of losing us.

"やめる 権利, my dear friend," I said. "After such a run, our 犠牲者 must be out of 勝利，勝つd. We will catch him now."

I 診察するd the surroundings with the idea of 訴訟／進行 alone in the 逮捕（する） of the 逃亡者／はかないもの, ーするために 回復する my papers, 関心ing which the 当局 would doubtless ask many disagreeable questions. Then I returned to my companions, and said:

"It is all やめる 平易な. You, Massol, take your place at the left; you, Delivet, at the 権利. From there, you can 観察する the entire posterior line of the bush, and he cannot escape without you seeing him, except by that ravine, and I shall watch it. If he does not come out 任意に, I will enter and 運動 him out toward one or the other of you. You have 簡単に to wait. Ah! I forgot: in 事例／患者 I need you, a ピストル 発射."

Massol and Delivet walked away to their 各々の 地位，任命するs. As soon as they had disappeared, I entered the grove with the greatest 警戒 so as to be neither seen nor heard. I 遭遇（する）d dense thickets, through which 狭くする paths had been 削減（する）, but the overhanging boughs compelled me to 可決する・採択する a stooping posture. One of these paths led to a （疑いを）晴らすing in which I 設立する footsteps upon the wet grass. I followed them; they led me to the foot of a 塚 which was surmounted by a 砂漠d, dilapidated hovel.

"He must be there," I said to myself. "It is a 井戸／弁護士席-chosen 退却／保養地."

I crept 慎重に to the 味方する of the building. A slight noise 知らせるd me that he was there; and, then, through an 開始, I saw him. His 支援する was turned toward me. In two bounds, I was upon him. He tried to 解雇する／砲火／射撃 a revolver that he held in his 手渡す. But he had no time. I threw him to the ground, in such a manner that his 武器 were beneath him, 新たな展開d and helpless, whilst I held him 負かす／撃墜する with my 膝 on his breast.

"Listen, my boy," I whispered in his ear. "I am Arsène Lupin. You are to 配達する over to me, すぐに and gracefully, my pocketbook and the lady's jewels, and, in return therefore, I will save you from the police and 入会させる you amongst my friends. One word: yes or no?"

"Yes," he murmured.

"Very good. Your escape, this morning, was 井戸／弁護士席 planned. I congratulate you."

I arose. He fumbled in his pocket, drew out a large knife and tried to strike me with it.

"Imbecile!" I exclaimed.

With one 手渡す, I parried the attack; with the other, I gave him a sharp blow on the carotid artery. He fell—stunned!

In my pocketbook, I 回復するd my papers and bank-公式文書，認めるs. Out of curiosity, I took his. Upon an envelope, 演説（する）／住所d to him, I read his 指名する: Pierre Onfrey. It startled me. Pierre Onfrey, the 暗殺者 of the rue Lafontaine at Auteuil! Pierre Onfrey, he who had 削減（する） the throats of Madame Delbois and her two daughters. I leaned over him. Yes, those were the features which, in the compartment, had evoked in me the memory of a 直面する I could not then 解任する.

But time was passing. I placed in an envelope two bank-公式文書，認めるs of one hundred フランs each, with a card 耐えるing these words: "Arsène Lupin to his worthy 同僚s 栄誉（を受ける）é Massol and Gaston Delivet, as a slight 記念品 of his 感謝." I placed it in a 目だつ 位置／汚点／見つけ出す in the room, where they would be sure to find it. Beside it, I placed Madame Renaud's handbag. Why could I not return it to the lady who had befriended me? I must 自白する that I had taken from it everything that 所有するd any 利益／興味 or value, leaving there only a 爆撃する 徹底的に捜す, a stick of 紅 Dorin for the lips, and an empty purse. But, you know, 商売／仕事 is 商売／仕事. And then, really, her husband is engaged in such a dishonorable vocation!

The man was becoming conscious. What was I to do? I was unable to save him or 非難する him. So I took his revolver and 解雇する／砲火／射撃d a 発射 in the 空気／公表する.

"My two acolytes will come and …に出席する to his 事例／患者," I said to myself, as I 急いでd away by the road through the ravine. Twenty minutes later, I was seated in my automobile.

At four o'clock, I telegraphed to my friends at Rouen that an 予期しない event would 妨げる me from making my 約束d visit. Between ourselves, considering what my friends must now know, my visit is 延期するd 無期限に／不明確に. A cruel disillusion for them!

At six o'clock I was in Paris. The evening newspapers 知らせるd me that Pierre Onfrey had been 逮捕（する）d at last.

Next day,—let us not despise the advantages of judicious advertising,—the "Echo de フラン" published this sensational item:

"Yesterday, 近づく Buchy, after 非常に／多数の exciting 出来事/事件s, Arsène Lupin 影響d the 逮捕（する） of Pierre Onfrey. The 暗殺者 of the rue Lafontaine had robbed Madame Renaud, wife of the director in the 刑務所 service, in a 鉄道 carriage on the Paris-Havre line. Arsène Lupin 回復するd to Madame Renaud the handbag that 含む／封じ込めるd her jewels, and gave a generous recompense to the two 探偵，刑事s who had 補助装置d him in making that 劇の 逮捕（する）."

5. The Queen's Necklace

Two or three times each year, on occasions of unusual importance, such as the balls at the Austrian 大使館 or the soirées of Lady Billingstone, the Countess de Dreux-Soubise wore upon her white shoulders "The Queen's Necklace."

It was, indeed, the famous necklace, the 伝説の necklace that Bohmer and Bassenge, 法廷，裁判所 jewelers, had made for Madame Du Barry; the veritable necklace that the 枢機けい／主要な de Rohan-Soubise ーするつもりであるd to give to Marie-Antoinette, Queen of フラン; and the same that the adventuress Jeanne de Valois, Countess de la Motte, had pulled to pieces one evening in February, 1785, with the 援助（する） of her husband and their 共犯者, Rétaux de Villette.

To tell the truth, the 開始するing alone was 本物の. Rétaux de Villette had kept it, whilst the Count de la Motte and his wife scattered to the four 勝利，勝つd of heaven the beautiful 石／投石するs so carefully chosen by Bohmer. Later, he sold the 開始するing to Gaston de Dreux-Soubise, 甥 and 相続人 of the 枢機けい／主要な, who repurchased the few diamonds that remained in the 所有／入手 of the English jeweler, Jeffreys; 補足（する）d them with other 石／投石するs of the same size but of much inferior 質, and thus 回復するd the marvelous necklace to the form in which it had come from the 手渡すs of Bohmer and Bassenge.

For nearly a century, the house of Dreux-Soubise had prided itself upon the 所有／入手 of this historic jewel. Although 逆の circumstances had 大いに 減ずるd their fortune, they preferred to curtail their 世帯 expenses rather than part with this 遺物 of 王族. More 特に, the 現在の count clung to it as a man 粘着するs to the home of his ancestors. As a 事柄 of prudence, he had rented a safety-deposit box at the Crédit Lyonnais in which to keep it. He went for it himself on the afternoon of the day on which his wife wished to wear it, and he, himself, carried it 支援する next morning.

On this particular evening, at the 歓迎会 given at the Palais de Castille, the Countess 達成するd a remarkable success; and King Christian, in whose 栄誉（を受ける） the f黎e was given, commented on her grace and beauty. The thousand facets of the diamond sparkled and shone like 炎上s of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 about her shapely neck and shoulders, and it is 安全な to say that 非，不，無 but she could have borne the 負わせる of such an ornament with so much 緩和する and grace.

This was a 二塁打 勝利, and the Count de Dreux was 高度に elated when they returned to their 議会 in the old house of the faubourg Saint-Germain. He was proud of his wife, and やめる as proud, perhaps, of the necklace that had conferred 追加するd luster to his noble house for 世代s. His wife, also, regarded the necklace with an almost childish vanity, and it was not without 悔いる that she 除去するd it from her shoulders and 手渡すd it to her husband who admired it as passionately as if he had never seen it before. Then, having placed it in its 事例／患者 of red leather, stamped with the 枢機けい／主要な's 武器, he passed into an 隣接するing room which was 簡単に an alcove or 閣僚 that had been 削減（する） off from their 議会, and which could be entered only by means of a door at the foot of their bed. As he had done on previous occasions, he hid it on a high shelf amongst hat-boxes and piles of linen. He の近くにd the door, and retired.

Next morning, he arose about nine o'clock, ーするつもりであるing to go to the Crédit Lyonnais before breakfast. He dressed, drank a cup of coffee, and went to the stables to give his orders. The 条件 of one of the horses worried him. He 原因（となる）d it to be 演習d in his presence. Then he returned to his wife, who had not yet left the 議会. Her maid was dressing her hair. When her husband entered, she asked:

"Are you going out?"

"Yes, as far as the bank."

"Of course. That is wise."

He entered the 閣僚; but, after a few seconds, and without any 調印する of astonishment, he asked:

"Did you take it, my dear?"

"What?...No, I have not taken anything."

"You must have moved it."

"Not at all. I have not even opened that door."

He appeared at the door, disconcerted, and stammered, in a scarcely intelligible 発言する／表明する:

"You 港／避難所't...It wasn't you?...Then..."

She 急いでd to his 援助, and, together, they made a 徹底的な search, throwing the boxes to the 床に打ち倒す and overturning the piles of linen. Then the count said, やめる discouraged:

"It is useless to look any more. I put it here, on this shelf."

"You must be mistaken."

"No, no, it was on this shelf—nowhere else."

They lighted a candle, as the room was やめる dark, and then carried out all the linen and other articles that the room 含む／封じ込めるd. And, when the room was emptied, they 自白するd, in despair, that the famous necklace had disappeared. Without losing time in vain lamentations, the countess 通知するd the commissary of police, Mon. Valorbe, who （機の）カム at once, and, after 審理，公聴会 their story, 問い合わせd of the count:

"Are you sure that no one passed through your 議会 during the night?"

"絶対 sure, as I am a very light sleeper. Besides, the 議会 door was bolted, and I remember unbolting it this morning when my wife rang for her maid."

"And there is no other 入り口 to the 閣僚?"

"非，不，無."

"No windows?"

"Yes, but it is の近くにd up."

"I will look at it."

Candles were lighted, and Mon. Valorbe 観察するd at once that the lower half of the window was covered by a large 圧力（をかける） which was, however, so 狭くする that it did not touch the casement on either 味方する.

"On what does this window open?"

"A small inner 法廷，裁判所."

"And you have a 床に打ち倒す above this?"

"Two; but, on a level with the servants' 床に打ち倒す, there is a の近くに grating over the 法廷，裁判所. That is why this room is so dark."

When the 圧力（をかける） was moved, they 設立する that the window was fastened, which would not have been the 事例／患者 if anyone had entered that way.

"Unless," said the count, "they went out through our 議会."

"In that 事例／患者, you would have 設立する the door unbolted."

The commissary considered the 状況／情勢 for a moment, then asked the countess:

"Did any of your servants know that you wore the necklace last evening?"

"Certainly; I didn't 隠す the fact. But nobody knew that it was hidden in that 閣僚."

"No one?"

"No one...unless..."

"Be やめる sure, madam, as it is a very important point."

She turned to her husband, and said:

"I was thinking of Henriette."

"Henriette? She didn't know where we kept it."

"Are you sure?"

"Who is this woman Henriette?" asked Mon. Valorbe.

"A school-mate, who was disowned by her family for marrying beneath her. After her husband's death, I furnished an apartment in this house for her and her son. She is clever with her needle and has done some work for me."

"What 床に打ち倒す is she on?"

"Same as ours...at the end of the 回廊（地帯）...and I think... the window of her kitchen..."

"Opens on this little 法廷，裁判所, does it not?"

"Yes, just opposite ours."

Mon. Valorbe then asked to see Henriette. They went to her apartment; she was sewing, whilst her son Raoul, about six years old, was sitting beside her, reading. The commissary was surprised to see the wretched apartment that had been 供給するd for the woman. It consisted of one room without a fireplace, and a very small room that served as a kitchen. The commissary proceeded to question her. She appeared to be 圧倒するd on learning of the 窃盗. Last evening she had herself dressed the countess and placed the necklace upon her shoulders.

"Good God!" she exclaimed, "it can't be possible!"

"And you have no idea? Not the least 疑惑? Is it possible that the どろぼう may have passed through your room?"

She laughed heartily, never supposing that she could be an 反対する of 疑惑.

"But I have not left my room. I never go out. And, perhaps, you have not seen?"

She opened the kitchen window, and said:

"See, it is at least three metres to the ledge of the opposite window."

"Who told you that we supposed the 窃盗 might have been committed in that way?"

"But...the necklace was in the 閣僚, wasn't it?"

"How do you know that?"

"Why, I have always known that it was kept there at night. It had been について言及するd in my presence."

Her 直面する, though still young, bore unmistakable traces of 悲しみ and 辞職. And it now assumed an 表現 of 苦悩 as if some danger 脅すd her. She drew her son toward her. The child took her 手渡す, and kissed it affectionately.

When they were alone again, the count said to the commissary:

"I do not suppose you 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う Henriette. I can answer for her. She is honesty itself."

"I やめる agree with you," replied Mon. Valorbe. "At most, I thought there might have been an unconscious complicity. But I 自白する that even that theory must be abandoned, as it does not help solve the problem now before us."

The commissary of police abandoned the 調査, which was now taken up and 完全にするd by the 診察するing 裁判官. He questioned the servants, 診察するd the 条件 of the bolt, 実験d with the 開始 and の近くにing of the 閣僚 window, and 調査するd the little 法廷，裁判所 from 最高の，を越す to 底（に届く）. All was in vain. The bolt was 損なわれていない. The window could not be opened or の近くにd from the outside.

The 調査s 特に 関心d Henriette, for, in spite of everything, they always turned in her direction. They made a 徹底的な 調査 of her past life, and ascertained that, during the last three years, she had left the house only four times, and her 商売／仕事, on those occasions, was satisfactorily explained. As a 事柄 of fact, she 行為／法令／行動するd as chambermaid and seamstress to the countess, who 扱う／治療するd her with 広大な／多数の／重要な strictness and even severity.

At the end of a week, the 診察するing 裁判官 had 安全な・保証するd no more 限定された （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） than the commissary of police. The 裁判官 said:

"Admitting that we know the 有罪の party, which we do not, we are 直面するd by the fact that we do not know how the 窃盗 was committed. We are brought 直面する to 直面する with two 障害s: a door and a window—both の近くにd and fastened. It is thus a 二塁打 mystery. How could anyone enter, and, moreover, how could anyone escape, leaving behind him a bolted door and a fastened window?"

At the end of four months, the secret opinion of the 裁判官 was that the count and countess, 存在 hard 圧力（をかける）d for money, which was their normal 条件, had sold the Queen's Necklace. He の近くにd the 調査.

The loss of the famous jewel was a 厳しい blow to the Dreux-Soubise. Their credit 存在 no longer propped up by the reserve 基金 that such a treasure 構成するd, they 設立する themselves 直面するd by more exacting creditors and money-貸す人s. They were 強いるd to 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する to the quick, to sell or mortgage every article that 所有するd any 商業の value. In 簡潔な／要約する, it would have been their 廃虚, if two large 遺産／遺物s from some distant 親族s had not saved them.

Their pride also 苦しむd a downfall, as if they had lost a ４半期/4分の1ing from their escutcheon. And, strange to relate, it was upon her former school-mate, Henriette, that the countess vented her spleen. Toward her, the countess 陳列する，発揮するd the most spiteful feelings, and even 率直に （刑事）被告 her. First, Henriette was relegated to the servants' ４半期/4分の1s, and, next day, 発射する／解雇するd.

For some time, the count and countess passed an uneventful life. They traveled a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定. Only one 出来事/事件 of 記録，記録的な／記録する occurred during that period. Some months after the 出発 of Henriette, the countess was surprised when she received and read the に引き続いて letter, 調印するd by Henriette:

"Madame,"

"I do not know how to thank you; for it was you, was it not, who sent me that? It could not have been anyone else. No one but you knows where I live. If I am wrong, excuse me, and 受託する my sincere thanks for your past 好意s..."

What did the letter mean? The 現在の or past 好意s of the countess consisted principally of 不正 and neglect. Why, then, this letter of thanks?

When asked for an explanation, Henriette replied that she had received a letter, through the mails, enclosing two bank-公式文書，認めるs of one thousand フランs each. The envelope, which she enclosed with her reply, bore the Paris 地位，任命する-示す, and was 演説（する）／住所d in a handwriting that was 明白に disguised. Now, whence （機の）カム those two thousand フランs? Who had sent them? And why had they sent them?

Henriette received a 類似の letter and a like sum of money twelve months later. And a third time; and a fourth; and each year for a period of six years, with this difference, that in the fifth and sixth years the sum was 二塁打d. There was another difference: the 地位，任命する-office 当局 having 掴むd one of the letters under the pretext that it was not 登録（する）d, the last two letters were duly sent によれば the 郵便の 規則s, the first 時代遅れの from Saint-Germain, the other from Suresnes. The writer 調印するd the first one, "Anquety"; and the other, "Péchard." The 演説（する）／住所s that he gave were 誤った.

At the end of six years, Henriette died, and the mystery remained 未解決の.

* * *

All these events are known to the public. The 事例／患者 was one of those which excite public 利益／興味, and it was a strange coincidence that this necklace, which had 原因（となる）d such a 広大な／多数の／重要な commotion in フラン at the の近くに of the eighteenth century, should create a 類似の commotion a century later. But what I am about to relate is known only to the parties 直接／まっすぐに 利益／興味d and a few others from whom the count exacted a 約束 of secrecy. As it is probable that some day or other that 約束 will be broken, I have no hesitation in rending the 隠す and thus 公表する／暴露するing the 重要な to the mystery, the explanation of the letter published in the morning papers two days ago; an 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の letter which 増加するd, if possible, the もやs and 影をつくる／尾行するs that envelope this inscrutable 演劇.

Five days ago, a number of guests were dining with the Count de Dreux-Soubise. There were several ladies 現在の, 含むing his two nieces and his cousin, and the に引き続いて gentlemen: the 大統領，／社長 of Essaville, the 副 Bochas, the chevalier Floriani, whom the count had known in Sicily, and General Marquis de Rouzières, and old club friend.

After the repast, coffee was served by the ladies, who gave the gentlemen 許可 to smoke their cigarettes, 供給するd they would not 砂漠 the salon. The conversation was general, and finally one of the guests chanced to speak of celebrated 罪，犯罪s. And that gave the Marquis de Rouzières, who delighted to tease the count, an 適切な時期 to について言及する the 事件／事情／状勢 of the Queen's Necklace, a 支配する that the count detested.

Each one 表明するd his own opinion of the 事件／事情／状勢; and, of course, their さまざまな theories were not only contradictory but impossible.

"And you, monsieur," said the countess to the chevalier Floriani, "what is your opinion?"

"Oh! I—I have no opinion, madame."

All the guests 抗議するd; for the chevalier had just 関係のある in an entertaining manner さまざまな adventures in which he had 参加するd with his father, a 治安判事 at Palermo, and which 設立するd his judgment and taste in such manners.

"I 自白する," said he, "I have いつかs 後継するd in unraveling mysteries that the cleverest 探偵，刑事s have 放棄するd; yet I do not （人命などを）奪う，主張する to be Sherlock Holmes. Moreover, I know very little about the 事件／事情／状勢 of the Queen's Necklace."

Everybody now turned to the count, who was thus 強いるd, やめる unwillingly, to narrate all the circumstances connected with the 窃盗. The chevalier listened, 反映するd, asked a few questions, and said:

"It is very strange...at first sight, the problem appears to be a very simple one."

The count shrugged his shoulders. The others drew closer to the chevalier, who continued, in a dogmatic トン:

"As a general 支配する, ーするために find the author of a 罪，犯罪 or a 窃盗, it is necessary to 決定する how that 罪，犯罪 or 窃盗 was committed, or, at least, how it could have been committed. In the 現在の 事例／患者, nothing is more simple, because we are 直面する to 直面する, not with several theories, but with one 肯定的な fact, that is to say: the どろぼう could only enter by the 議会 door or the window of the 閣僚. Now, a person cannot open a bolted door from the outside. Therefore, he must have entered through the window."

"But it was の近くにd and fastened, and we 設立する it fastened afterward," 宣言するd the count.

"ーするために do that," continued Floriani, without 注意するing the interruption, "he had 簡単に to 建設する a 橋（渡しをする）, a plank or a ladder, between the balcony of the kitchen and the ledge of the window, and as the jewel-事例／患者—"

"But I repeat that the window was fastened," exclaimed the count, impatiently.

This time, Floriani was 強いるd to reply. He did so with the greatest tranquility, as if the 反対 was the most insignificant 事件／事情／状勢 in the world.

"I will 収容する／認める that it was; but is there not a transom in the upper part of the window?"

"How do you know that?"

"In the first place, that was customary in houses of that date; and, in the second place, without such a transom, the 窃盗 cannot be explained."

"Yes, there is one, but it was の近くにd, the same as the window. その結果, we did not 支払う／賃金 attention to it."

"That was a mistake; for, if you had 診察するd it, you would have 設立する that it had been opened."

"But how?"

"I 推定する that, like all others, it opens by means of a wire with a （犯罪の）一味 on the lower end."

"Yes, but I do not see—"

"Now, through a 穴を開ける in the window, a person could, by the 援助（する） of some 器具, let us say a poker with a hook at the end, 支配する the （犯罪の）一味, pull 負かす／撃墜する, and open the transom."

The count laughed and said:

"Excellent! excellent! Your 計画／陰謀 is very cleverly 建設するd, but you overlook one thing, monsieur, there is no 穴を開ける in the window."

"There was a 穴を開ける."

"Nonsense, we would have seen it."

"ーするために see it, you must look for it, and no one has looked. The 穴を開ける is there; it must be there, at the 味方する of the window, in the putty. In a vertical direction, of course."

The count arose. He was 大いに excited. He paced up and 負かす／撃墜する the room, two or three times, in a nervous manner; then, approaching Floriani, said:

"Nobody has been in that room since; nothing has been changed."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, monsieur, you can easily 満足させる yourself that my explanation is 訂正する."

"It does not agree with the facts 設立するd by the 診察するing 裁判官. You have seen nothing, and yet you 否定する all that we have seen and all that we know."

Floriani paid no attention to the count's petulance. He 簡単に smiled and said:

"Mon Dieu, monsieur, I 服従させる／提出する my theory; that is all. If I am mistaken, you can easily 証明する it."

"I will do so at once...I 自白する that your 保証／確信—"

The count muttered a few more words; then suddenly 急ぐd to the door and passed out. Not a word was uttered in his absence; and this 深遠な silence gave the 状況／情勢 an 空気／公表する of almost 悲劇の importance. Finally, the count returned. He was pale and nervous. He said to his friends, in a trembling 発言する／表明する:

"I beg your 容赦...the 発覚s of the chevalier were so 予期しない...I should never have thought..."

His wife questioned him, 熱望して:

"Speak...what is it?"

He stammered: "The 穴を開ける is there, at the very 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, at the 味方する of the window—"

He 掴むd the chevalier's arm, and said to him in an imperious トン:

"Now, monsieur, proceed. I 収容する／認める that you are 権利 so far, but now...that is not all...go on...tell us the 残り／休憩（する） of it."

Floriani 解放する／撤去させるd his arm gently, and, after a moment, continued:

"井戸／弁護士席, in my opinion, this is what happened. The どろぼう, knowing that the countess was going to wear the necklace that evening, had 用意が出来ている his gangway or 橋（渡しをする） during your absence. He watched you through the window and saw you hide the necklace. Afterward, he 削減（する） the glass and pulled the （犯罪の）一味."

"Ah! but the distance was so 広大な／多数の／重要な that it would be impossible for him to reach the window-fastening through the transom."

"井戸／弁護士席, then, if he could not open the window by reaching through the transom, he must have はうd through the transom."

"Impossible; it is too small. No man could はう through it."

"Then it was not a man," 宣言するd Floriani.

"What!"

"If the transom is too small to 収容する／認める a man, it must have been a child."

"A child!"

"Did you not say that your friend Henriette had a son?"

"Yes; a son 指名するd Raoul."

"Then, in all probability, it was Raoul who committed the 窃盗."

"What proof have you of that?"

"What proof! Plenty of it...For instance—"

He stopped, and 反映するd for a moment, then continued:

"For instance, that gangway or 橋（渡しをする）. It is improbable that the child could have brought it in from outside the house and carried it away again without 存在 観察するd. He must have used something の近くに at 手渡す. In the little room used by Henriette as a kitchen, were there not some 棚上げにするs against the 塀で囲む on which she placed her pans and dishes?"

"Two 棚上げにするs, to the best of my memory."

"Are you sure that those 棚上げにするs are really fastened to the 木造の brackets that support them? For, if they are not, we could be 正当化するd in 推定するing that the child 除去するd them, fastened them together, and thus formed his 橋（渡しをする）. Perhaps, also, since there was a stove, we might find the bent poker that he used to open the transom."

Without 説 a word, the count left the room; and, this time, those 現在の did not feel the nervous 苦悩 they had experienced the first time. They were 確信して that Floriani was 権利, and no one was surprised when the count returned and 宣言するd:

"It was the child. Everything 証明するs it."

"You have seen the 棚上げにするs and the poker?"

"Yes. The 棚上げにするs have been unnailed, and the poker is there yet."

But the countess exclaimed:

"You had better say it was his mother. Henriette is the 有罪の party. She must have compelled her son—"

"No," 宣言するd the chevalier, "the mother had nothing to do with it."

"Nonsense! they 占領するd the same room. The child could not have done it without the mother's knowledge."

"True, they lived in the same room, but all this happened in the 隣接するing room, during the night, while the mother was asleep."

"And the necklace?" said the count. "It would have been 設立する amongst the child's things."

"容赦 me! He had been out. That morning, on which you 設立する him reading, he had just come from school, and perhaps the commissary of police, instead of wasting his time on the innocent mother, would have been better 雇うd in searching the child's desk amongst his school-調書をとる／予約するs."

"But how do you explain those two thousand フランs that Henriette received each year? Are they not 証拠 of her complicity?"

"If she had been an 共犯者, would she have thanked you for that money? And then, was she not closely watched? But the child, 存在 解放する／自由な, could easily go to a 隣接地の city, 交渉する with some 売買業者 and sell him one diamond or two diamonds, as he might wish, upon 条件 that the money should be sent from Paris, and that 訴訟／進行 could be repeated from year to year."

An indescribable 苦悩 抑圧するd the Dreux-Soubise and their guests. There was something in the トン and 態度 of Floriani—something more than the chevalier's 保証／確信 which, from the beginning, had so annoyed the count. There was a touch of irony, that seemed rather 敵意を持った than 同情的な. But the count 影響する／感情d to laugh, as he said:

"All that is very ingenious and 利益／興味ing, and I congratulate you upon your vivid imagination."

"No, not at all," replied Floriani, with the 最大の gravity, "I imagine nothing. I 簡単に 述べる the events as they must have occurred."

"But what do you know about them?"

"What you yourself have told me. I picture to myself the life of the mother and child 負かす／撃墜する there in the country; the illness of the mother, the 計画／陰謀s of and 発明s of the child to sell the precious 石／投石するs ーするために save his mother's life, or, at least, soothe her dying moments. Her illness 打ち勝つs her. She dies. Years roll on. The child becomes a man; and then—and now I will give my imagination a 解放する／自由な rein—let us suppose that the man feels a 願望（する） to return to the home of his childhood, that he does so, and that he 会合，会うs there 確かな people who 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd and （刑事）被告 his mother...do you realize the 悲しみ and anguish of such an interview in the very house wherein the 初めの 演劇 was played?"

His words seemed to echo for a few seconds in the 続いて起こるing silence, and one could read upon the 直面するs of the Count and Countess de Dreux a bewildered 成果／努力 to comprehend his meaning and, at the same time, the 恐れる and anguish of such a comprehension. The count spoke at last, and said:

"Who are you, monsieur?"

"I? The chevalier Floriani, whom you met at Palermo, and whom you have been gracious enough to 招待する to your house on several occasions."

"Then what does this story mean?"

"Oh! nothing at all! It is 簡単に a pastime, so far as I am 関心d. I 努力する to 描写する the 楽しみ that Henriette's son, if he still lives, would have in telling you that he was the 有罪の party, and that he did it because his mother was unhappy, as she was on the point of losing the place of a...servant, by which she lived, and because the child 苦しむd at sight of his mother's 悲しみ."

He spoke with 抑えるd emotion, rose 部分的に／不公平に and inclined toward the countess. There could be no 疑問 that the chevalier Floriani was Henriette's son. His 態度 and words 布告するd it. Besides, was it not his obvious 意向 and 願望（する） to be 認めるd as such?

The count hesitated. What 活動／戦闘 would he take against the audacious guest? （犯罪の）一味? 刺激する a スキャンダル? Unmask the man who had once robbed him? But that was a long time ago! And who would believe that absurd story about the 有罪の child? No; far better to 受託する the 状況／情勢, and pretend not to comprehend the true meaning of it. So the count, turning to Floriani, exclaimed:

"Your story is very curious, very entertaining; I enjoyed it much. But what do you think has become of this young man, this model son? I hope he has not abandoned the career in which he made such a brilliant début."

"Oh! certainly not."

"After such a début! To steal the Queen's Necklace at six years of age; the celebrated necklace that was coveted by Marie-Antoinette!"

"And to steal it," 発言／述べるd Floriani, 落ちるing in with the count's mood, "without costing him the slightest trouble, without anyone thinking to 診察する the 条件 of the window, or to 観察する that the window-sill was too clean—that window-sill which he had wiped ーするために efface the 示すs he had made in the 厚い dust. We must 収容する／認める that it was 十分な to turn the 長，率いる of a boy at that age. It was all so 平易な. He had 簡単に to 願望（する） the thing, and reach out his 手渡す to get it."

"And he reached out his 手渡す."

"Both 手渡すs," replied the chevalier, laughing.

His companions received a shock. What mystery surrounded the life of the いわゆる Floriani? How wonderful must have been the life of that adventurer, a どろぼう at six years of age, and who, to-day, in search of excitement or, at most, to gratify a feeling of 憤慨, had come to 勇敢に立ち向かう his 犠牲者 in her own house, audaciously, foolishly, and yet with all the grace and delicacy of a courteous guest!

He arose and approached the countess to 企て，努力，提案 her adieu. She recoiled, unconsciously. He smiled.

"Oh! Madame, you are afraid of me! Did I 追求する my 役割 of parlor-magician a step too far?"

She controlled herself, and replied, with her accustomed 緩和する:

"Not at all, monsieur. The legend of that dutiful son 利益／興味d me very much, and I am pleased to know that my necklace had such a brilliant 運命. But do you not think that the son of that woman, that Henriette, was the 犠牲者 of hereditary 影響（力） in the choice of his vocation?"

He shuddered, feeling the point, and replied:

"I am sure of it; and, moreover, his natural 傾向 to 罪，犯罪 must have been very strong or he would have been discouraged."

"Why so?"

"Because, as you must know, the 大多数 of the diamonds were 誤った. The only 本物の 石／投石するs were the few 購入（する）d from the English jeweler, the others having been sold, one by one, to 会合，会う the cruel necessities of life."

"It was still the Queen's Necklace, monsieur," replied the countess, haughtily, "and that is something that he, Henriette's son, could not 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる."

"He was able to 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる, madame, that, whether true or 誤った, the necklace was nothing more that an 反対する of parade, an emblem of senseless pride."

The count made a 脅すing gesture, but his wife stopped him.

"Monsieur," she said, "if the man to whom you allude has the slightest sense of 栄誉（を受ける）—"

She stopped, 脅迫してさせるd by Floriani's 冷静な／正味の manner.

"If that man has the slightest sense of 栄誉（を受ける）," he repeated.

She felt that she would not 伸び（る） anything by speaking to him in that manner, and in spite of her 怒り／怒る and indignation, trembling as she was from humiliated pride, she said to him, almost politely:

"Monsieur, the legend says that Rétaux de Villette, when in 所有／入手 of the Queen's Necklace, did not disfigure the 開始するing. He understood that the diamonds were 簡単に the ornament, the 従犯者, and that the 開始するing was the 必須の work, the 創造 of the artist, and he 尊敬（する）・点d it accordingly. Do you think that this man had the same feeling?"

"I have no 疑問 that the 開始するing still 存在するs. The child 尊敬（する）・点d it."

"井戸／弁護士席, monsieur, if you should happen to 会合，会う him, will you tell him that he 不正に keeps 所有／入手 of a 遺物 that is the 所有物／資産／財産 and pride of a 確かな family, and that, although the 石／投石するs have been 除去するd, the Queen's Necklace still belongs to the house of Dreux-Soubise. It belongs to us as much as our 指名する or our 栄誉（を受ける）."

The chevalier replied, 簡単に:

"I shall tell him, madame."

He 屈服するd to her, saluted the count and the other guests, and 出発／死d.

* * *

Four days later, the countess de Dreux 設立する upon the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in her 議会 a red leather 事例／患者 耐えるing the 枢機けい／主要な's 武器. She opened it, and 設立する the Queen's Necklace.

But as all things must, in the life of a man who 努力する／競うs for まとまり and logic, converge toward the same goal—and as a little advertising never does any 害（を与える）—on the に引き続いて day, the "Echo de フラン" published these sensational lines:

"The Queen's Necklace, the famous historical 宝石類 stolen from the family of Dreux-Soubise, has been 回復するd by Arsène Lupin, who 急いでd to 回復する it to its rightful owner. We cannot too 高度に commend such a delicate and chivalrous 行為／法令／行動する."

6. The Seven of Hearts

I am frequently asked this question: "How did you make the 知識 of Arsène Lupin?"

My 関係 with Arsène Lupin was 井戸／弁護士席 known. The 詳細（に述べる）s that I gather 関心ing that mysterious man, the irrefutable facts that I 現在の, the new 証拠 that I produce, the 解釈／通訳 that I place on 確かな 行為／法令／行動するs of which the public has seen only the exterior manifestations without 存在 able to discover the secret 推論する／理由s or the invisible 機械装置, all 設立する, if not an intimacy, at least 友好的な relations and 正規の／正選手 信用／信任s.

But how did I make his 知識? Why was I selected to be his historiographer? Why I, and not some one else?

The answer is simple: chance alone 統括するd over my choice; my 長所 was not considered. It was chance that put me in his way. It was by chance that I was 関係者 in one of his strangest and most mysterious adventures; and by chance that I was an actor in a 演劇 of which he was the marvelous 行う／開催する／段階 director; an obscure and intricate 演劇, bristling with such thrilling events that I feel a 確かな 当惑 in 請け負うing to 述べる it.

The first 行為／法令／行動する takes place during that memorable night of 22 June, of which so much has already been said. And, for my part, I せいにする the anomalous 行為／行う of which I was 有罪の on that occasion to the unusual でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる of mind in which I 設立する myself on my return home. I had dined with some friends at the Cascade restaurant, and, the entire evening, whilst we smoked and the orchestra played melancholy waltzes, we talked only of 罪，犯罪s and 窃盗s, and dark and frightful intrigues. That is always a poor 予備交渉 to a night's sleep.

The Saint-ツバメs went away in an automobile. ジーンズ Daspry—that delightful, heedless Daspry who, six months later, was killed in such a 悲劇の manner on the frontier of Morocco—ジーンズ Daspry and I returned on foot through the dark, warm night. When we arrived in 前線 of the little house in which I had lived for a year at Neuilly, on the boulevard Maillot, he said to me:

"Are you afraid?"

"What an idea!"

"But this house is so 孤立するd...no neighbors...空いている lots...Really, I am not a coward, and yet—"

"井戸／弁護士席, you are very 元気づける, I must say."

"Oh! I say that as I would say anything else. The Saint-ツバメs have impressed me with their stories of brigands and thieves."

We shook 手渡すs and said good-night. I took out my 重要な and opened the door.

"井戸／弁護士席, that is good," I murmured, "Antoine has forgotten to light a candle."

Then I 解任するd the fact that Antoine was away; I had given him a short leave of absence. Forthwith, I was disagreeably 抑圧するd by the 不明瞭 and silence of the night. I 上がるd the stairs on tiptoe, and reached my room as quickly as possible; then, contrary to my usual habit, I turned the 重要な and 押し進めるd the bolt.

The light of my candle 回復するd my courage. Yet I was careful to take my revolver from its 事例／患者—a large, powerful 武器—and place it beside my bed. That 警戒 完全にするd my 安心. I laid 負かす／撃墜する and, as usual, took a 調書をとる／予約する from my night-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to read myself to sleep. Then I received a 広大な／多数の／重要な surprise. Instead of the paper-knife with which I had 示すd my place on the 先行する night, I 設立する an envelope, の近くにd with five 調印（する）s of red wax. I 掴むd it 熱望して. It was 演説（する）／住所d to me, and 示すd: "緊急の."

A letter! A letter 演説（する）／住所d to me! Who could have put it in that place? Nervously, I tore open the envelope, and read:

"From the moment you open this letter, whatever happens, whatever you may hear, do not move, do not utter one cry. さもなければ you are doomed."

I am not a coward, and, やめる 同様に as another, I can 直面する real danger, or smile at the visionary 危険，危なくするs of imagination. But, let me repeat, I was in an anomalous 条件 of mind, with my 神経s 始める，決める on 辛勝する／優位 by the events of the evening. Besides, was there not, in my 現在の 状況／情勢, something startling and mysterious, calculated to 乱す the most 勇敢な spirit?

My feverish fingers clutched the sheet of paper, and I read and re-read those 脅すing words: "Do not move, do not utter one cry. さもなければ, you are doomed."

"Nonsense!" I thought. "It is a joke; the work of some cheerful idiot."

I was about to laugh—a good loud laugh. Who 妨げるd me? What haunting 恐れる compressed my throat?

At least, I would blow out the candle. No, I could not do it. "Do not move, or you are doomed," were the words he had written.

These 自動車-suggestions are frequently more imperious than the most 肯定的な realities; but why should I struggle against them? I had 簡単に to の近くに my 注目する，もくろむs. I did so.

At that moment, I heard a slight noise, followed by crackling sounds, 訴訟／進行 from a large room used by me as a library. A small room or antechamber was 据えるd between the library and my bedchamber.

The approach of an actual danger 大いに excited me, and I felt a 願望（する） to get up, 掴む my revolver, and 急ぐ into the library. I did not rise; I saw one of the curtains of the left window move. There was no 疑問 about it: the curtain had moved. It was still moving. And I saw—oh! I saw やめる distinctly—in the 狭くする space between the curtains and the window, a human form; a bulky 集まり that 妨げるd the curtains from hanging straight. And it is 平等に 確かな that the man saw me through the large meshes of the curtain. Then, I understood the 状況／情勢. His 使節団 was to guard me while the others carried away their booty. Should I rise and 掴む my revolver? Impossible! He was there! At the least movement, at the least cry, I was doomed.

Then （機の）カム a terrific noise that shook the house; this was followed by はしけ sounds, two or three together, like those of a 大打撃を与える that 回復するd. At least, that was the impression formed in my 混乱させるd brain. These were mingled with other sounds, thus creating a veritable uproar which 証明するd that the 侵入者s were not only bold, but felt themselves 安全な・保証する from interruption.

They were 権利. I did not move. Was it cowardice? No, rather 証拠不十分, a total 無（不）能 to move any 部分 of my 団体／死体, 連合させるd with discretion; for why should I struggle? Behind that man, there were ten others who would come to his 援助. Should I 危険 my life to save a few tapestries and bibelots?

Throughout the night, my 拷問 耐えるd. Insufferable 拷問, terrible anguish! The noises had stopped, but I was in constant 恐れる of their 再開. And the man! The man who was guarding me, 武器 in 手渡す. My fearful 注目する，もくろむs remained cast in his direction. And my heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域! And a profuse perspiration oozed from every pore of my 団体／死体!

Suddenly, I experienced an 巨大な 救済; a milk-wagon, whose sound was familiar to me, passed along the boulevard; and, at the same time, I had an impression that the light of a new day was trying to steal through the の近くにd window-blinds.

At last, daylight 侵入するd the room; other 乗り物s passed along the boulevard; and all the phantoms of the night 消えるd. Then I put one arm out of the bed, slowly and 慎重に. My 注目する，もくろむs were 直す／買収する，八百長をするd upon the curtain, 位置を示すing the exact 位置／汚点／見つけ出す at which I must 解雇する／砲火／射撃; I made an exact 計算／見積り of the movements I must make; then, quickly, I 掴むd my revolver and 解雇する／砲火／射撃d.

I leaped from my bed with a cry of deliverance, and 急ぐd to the window. The 弾丸 had passed through the curtain and the window-glass, but it had not touched the man—for the very good 推論する／理由 that there was 非，不，無 there. Nobody! Thus, during the entire night, I had been hypnotized by a 倍の of the curtain. And, during that time, the malefactors...Furiously, with an enthusiasm that nothing could have stopped, I turned the 重要な, opened the door, crossed the antechamber, opened another door, and 急ぐd into the library. But amazement stopped me on the threshold, panting, astounded, more astonished than I had been by the absence of the man. All the things that I supposed had been stolen, furniture, 調書をとる／予約するs, pictures, old tapestries, everything was in its proper place.

It was incredible. I could not believe my 注目する，もくろむs. Notwithstanding that uproar, those noises of 除去...I made a 小旅行する, I 検査／視察するd the 塀で囲むs, I made a mental 在庫 of all the familiar 反対するs. Nothing was 行方不明の. And, what was more disconcerting, there was no 手がかり（を与える） to the 侵入者s, not a 調印する, not a 議長，司会を務める 乱すd, not the trace of a footstep.

"井戸／弁護士席! 井戸／弁護士席!" I said to myself, 圧力（をかける）ing my 手渡すs on my bewildered 長，率いる, "surely I am not crazy! I heard something!"

インチ by インチ, I made a careful examination of the room. It was in vain. Unless I could consider this as a 発見: Under a small Persian rug, I 設立する a card—an ordinary playing card. It was the seven-of-hearts; it was like any other seven-of-hearts in French playing cards, with this slight but curious exception: The extreme point of each of the seven red 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs or hearts was pierced by a 穴を開ける, 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and 正規の／正選手 as if made with the point of an awl.

Nothing more. A card and a letter 設立する in a 調書をとる／予約する. But was not that 十分な to 断言する that I had not been the plaything of a dream?

* * *

Throughout the day, I continued my searches in the library. It was a large room, much too large for the 必要物／必要条件s of such a house, and the decoration of which attested the bizarre taste of its 創立者. The 床に打ち倒す was a mosaic of multicolored 石／投石するs, formed into large symmetrical designs. The 塀で囲むs were covered with a 類似の mosaic, arranged in パネル盤s, Pompeiian allegories, Byzantine compositions, frescoes of the Middle Ages. A Bacchus bestriding a 樽. An emperor wearing a gold 栄冠を与える, a flowing 耐えるd, and 持つ／拘留するing a sword in his 権利 手渡す.

やめる high, after the style of an artist's studio, there was a large window—the only one in the room. That window 存在 always open at night, it was probable that the men had entered through it, by the 援助（する） of a ladder. But, again, there was no 証拠. The 底（に届く） of the ladder would have left some 示すs in the soft earth beneath the window; but there were 非，不，無. Nor were there any traces of footsteps in any part of the yard.

I had no idea of 知らせるing the police, because the facts I had before me were so absurd and inconsistent. They would laugh at me. However, as I was then a reporter on the staff of the "Gil Blas," I wrote a 非常に長い account of my adventure and it was published in the paper on the second day thereafter. The article attracted some attention, but no one took it 本気で. They regarded it as a work of fiction rather than a story of real life. The Saint-ツバメs 決起大会／結集させるd me. But Daspry, who took an 利益／興味 in such 事柄s, （機の）カム to see me, made a 熟考する／考慮する of the 事件／事情／状勢, but reached no 結論.

* * *

A few mornings later, the door-bell rang, and Antoine （機の）カム to 知らせる me that a gentleman 願望（する）d to see me. He would not give his 指名する. I directed Antoine to show him up. He was a man of about forty years of age with a very dark complexion, lively features, and whose 訂正する dress, わずかに frayed, 布告するd a taste that contrasted strangely with his rather vulgar manners. Without any preamble, he said to me—in a rough 発言する／表明する that 確認するd my 疑惑 as to his social position:

"Monsieur, whilst in a café, I 選ぶd up a copy of the 'Gil Blas,' and read your article. It 利益／興味d me very much."

"Thank you."

"And here I am."

"Ah!"

"Yes, to talk to you. Are all the facts 関係のある by you やめる 訂正する?"

"絶対 so."

"井戸／弁護士席, in that 事例／患者, I can, perhaps, give you some （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席; proceed."

"No, not yet. First, I must be sure that the facts are 正確に／まさに as you have 関係のある them."

"I have given you my word. What その上の proof do you want?"

"I must remain alone in this room."

"I do not understand," I said, with surprise.

"It's an idea that occurred to me when reading your article. 確かな 詳細（に述べる）s 設立するd an 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の coincidence with another 事例／患者 that （機の）カム under my notice. If I am mistaken, I shall say nothing more. And the only means of ascertaining the truth is by my remaining in the room alone."

What was at the 底（に届く） of this proposition? Later, I 解任するd that the man was exceedingly nervous; but, at the same time, although somewhat astonished, I 設立する nothing 特に 異常な about the man or the request he had made. Moreover, my curiosity was 誘発するd; so I replied:

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. How much time do you 要求する?"

"Oh! three minutes—not longer. Three minutes from now, I will 再結合させる you."

I left the room, and went downstairs. I took out my watch. One minute passed. Two minutes. Why did I feel so depressed? Why did those moments seem so solemn and weird? Two minutes and a half...Two minutes and three ４半期/4分の1s. Then I heard a ピストル 発射.

I bounded up the stairs and entered the room. A cry of horror escaped me. In the middle of the room, the man was lying on his left 味方する, motionless. 血 was flowing from a 負傷させる in his forehead. 近づく his 手渡す was a revolver, still smoking.

But, in 新規加入 to this frightful spectacle, my attention was attracted by another 反対する. At two feet from the 団体／死体, upon the 床に打ち倒す, I saw a playing card. It was the seven of hearts. I 選ぶd it up. The lower extremity of each of the seven 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs was pierced with a small 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 穴を開ける.

* * *

A half-hour later, the commissary of police arrived, then the 検死官 and the 長，指導者 of the S?eté, Mon. Dudouis. I had been careful not to touch the 死体. The 予選 調査 was very 簡潔な／要約する, and 公表する／暴露するd nothing. There were no papers in the pockets of the 死んだ; no 指名する upon his 着せる／賦与するs; no 初期の upon his linen; nothing to give any 手がかり（を与える） to his 身元. The room was in the same perfect order as before. The furniture had not been 乱すd. Yet this man had not come to my house 単独で for the 目的 of 殺人，大当り himself, or because he considered my place the most convenient one for his 自殺! There must have been a 動機 for his 行為／法令／行動する of despair, and that 動機 was, no 疑問, the result of some new fact ascertained by him during the three minutes he was alone.

What was that fact? What had he seen? What frightful secret had been 明らかにする／漏らすd to him? There was no answer to these questions. But, at the last moment, an 出来事/事件 occurred that appeared to us of かなりの importance. As two policemen were raising the 団体／死体 to place it on a 担架, the left 手渡す thus 存在 乱すd, a crumpled card fell from it. The card bore these words: "Georges Andermatt, 37 Rue de Berry."

What did that mean? Georges Andermatt was a rich 銀行業者 in Paris, the 創立者 and 大統領，／社長 of the Metal 交流 which had given such an impulse to the metallic 産業s in フラン. He lived in princely style; was the possessor of 非常に／多数の automobiles, coaches, and an expensive racing-stable. His social 事件／事情／状勢s were very select, and Madame Andermatt was 公式文書，認めるd for her grace and beauty.

"Can that be the man's 指名する?" I asked.

The 長，指導者 of the S?eté leaned over him.

"It is not he. Mon. Andermatt is a thin man, and わずかに gray."

"But why this card?"

"Have you a telephone, monsieur?"

"Yes, in the vestibule. Come with me."

He looked in the directory, and then asked for number 415.21.

"Is Mon. Andermatt at home?...Please tell him that Mon. Dudouis wished him to come at once to 102 Boulevard Maillot. Very important."

Twenty minutes later, Mon. Andermatt arrived in his automobile. After the circumstances had been explained to him, he was taken in to see the 死体. He 陳列する，発揮するd かなりの emotion, and spoke, in a low トン, and 明らかに unwillingly:

"Etienne Varin," he said.

"You know him?"

"No...or, at least, yes...by sight only. His brother..."

"Ah! he has a brother?"

"Yes, Alfred Varin. He （機の）カム to see me once on some 事柄 of 商売／仕事...I forget what it was."

"Where does he live?"

"The two brothers live together—rue de Provence, I think."

"Do you know any 推論する／理由 why he should commit 自殺?"

"非，不，無."

"He held a card in his 手渡す. It was your card with your 演説（する）／住所."

"I do not understand that. It must have been there by some chance that will be 公表する／暴露するd by the 調査."

A very strange chance, I thought; and I felt that the others entertained the same impression.

I discovered the same impression in the papers next day, and amongst all my friends with whom I discussed the 事件／事情／状勢. まっただ中に the mysteries that enveloped it, after the 二塁打 発見 of the seven of hearts pierced with seven 穴を開けるs, after the two inscrutable events that had happened in my house, that visiting card 約束d to throw some light on the 事件／事情／状勢. Through it, the truth may be 明らかにする／漏らすd. But, contrary to our 期待s, Mon. Andermatt furnished no explanation. He said:

"I have told you all I know. What more can I do? I am 大いに surprised that my card should be 設立する in such a place, and I 心から hope the point will be （疑いを）晴らすd up."

* * *

It was not. The 公式の／役人 調査 設立するd that the Varin brothers were of スイスの origin, had led a 転換ing life under さまざまな 指名するs, たびたび（訪れる）ing 賭事ing 訴える手段／行楽地s, associating with a 禁止（する）d of foreigners who had been 分散させるd by the police after a 一連の 強盗s in which their 参加 was 設立するd only by their flight. At number 24 rue de Provence, where the Varin brothers had lived six years before, no one knew what had become of them.

I 自白する that, for my part, the 事例／患者 seemed to me so 複雑にするd and so mysterious that I did not think the problem would ever be solved, so I 結論するd to waste no more time upon it. But ジーンズ Daspry, whom I frequently met at that period, became more and more 利益／興味d in it each day. It was he who pointed out to me that item from a foreign newspaper which was 再生するd and commented upon by the entire 圧力（をかける）. It was as follows:

"The first 裁判，公判 of a new model of 潜水艦 boat, which is 推定する／予想するd to revolutionize 海軍の 戦争, will be given in presence of the former Emperor at a place that will be kept secret until the last minute. An indiscretion has 明らかにする／漏らすd its 指名する; it is called 'The Seven-of-Hearts.'"

The "Seven-of-Hearts"! That 現在のd a new problem. Could a 関係 be 設立するd between the 指名する of the 潜水艦 and the 出来事/事件s which we have 関係のある? But a 関係 of what nature? What had happened here could have no possible relation with the 潜水艦.

"What do you know about it?" said Daspry to me. "The most diverse 影響s often proceed from the same 原因（となる）."

Two days later, the に引き続いて foreign news item was received and published:

"It is said that the 計画（する）s of the new 潜水艦 'Seven-of-Hearts' were 用意が出来ている by French engineers, who, having sought, in vain, the support of their compatriots, subsequently entered into 交渉s with the British Admiralty, without success."

I do not wish to give undue publicity to 確かな delicate 事柄s which once 刺激するd かなりの excitement. Yet, since all danger of 傷害 therefrom has now come to an end, I must speak of the article that appeared in the "Echo de フラン," which 誘発するd so much comment at that time, and which threw かなりの light upon the mystery of the "Seven-of-Hearts." This is the article as it was published over the 署名 of Salvator:

"THE AFFAIR OF THE SEVEN-OF-HEARTS.

"A CORNER OF THE VEIL RAISED.

"We will be 簡潔な／要約する. Ten years ago, a young 採掘 engineer, Louis Lacombe, wishing to 充てる his time and fortune to 確かな 熟考する／考慮するs, 辞職するd his position he then held, and rented number 102 boulevard Maillot, a small house that had been recently built and decorated for an Italian count. Through the 機関 of the Varin brothers of Lausanne, one of whom 補助装置d in the 予選 実験s and the other 行為／法令／行動するd as 財政上の スパイ／執行官, the young engineer was introduced to Georges Andermatt, the 創立者 of the Metal 交流.

"After several interviews, he 後継するd in 利益／興味ing the 銀行業者 in a 潜水艦 boat on which he was working, and it was agreed that as soon as the 発明 was perfected, Mon. Andermatt would use his 影響（力） with the 大臣 of 海洋 to 得る a 一連の 裁判，公判s under the direction of the 政府. For two years, Louis Lacombe was a たびたび（訪れる） 訪問者 at Andermatt's house, and he submitted to the 銀行業者 the さまざまな 改良s he made upon his 初めの 計画（する）s, until one day, 存在 満足させるd with the perfection of his work, he asked Mon. Andermatt to communicate with the 大臣 of 海洋. That day, Louis Lacombe dined at Mon. Andermatt's house. He left there about half-past eleven at night. He has not been seen since.

"A perusal of the newspapers of that date will show that the young man's family 原因（となる）d every possible 調査 to be made, but without success; and it was the general opinion that Louis Lacombe—who was known as an 初めの and visionary 青年—had 静かに left for parts unknown.

"Let us 受託する that theory—improbable, though it be,—and let us consider another question, which is a most important one for our country: What has become of the 計画（する）s of the 潜水艦? Did Louis Lacombe carry them away? Are they destroyed?

"After making a 徹底的な 調査, we are able to 主張する, 前向きに／確かに, that the 計画（する）s are in 存在, and are now in the 所有／入手 of the two brothers Varin. How did they acquire such a 所有／入手? That is a question not yet 決定するd; nor do we know why they have not tried to sell them at an earlier date. Did they 恐れる that their 肩書を与える to them would be called in question? If so, they have lost that 恐れる, and we can 発表する definitely, that the 計画（する）s of Louis Lacombe are now the 所有物／資産／財産 of foreign 力／強力にする, and we are in a position to publish the correspondence that passed between the Varin brothers and the 代表者／国会議員 of that 力／強力にする. The 'Seven-of-Hearts' invented by Louis Lacombe has been 現実に 建設するd by our neighbor.

"Will the 発明 実行する the 楽観的な 期待s of those who were 関心d in that 背信の 行為／法令／行動する?"

And a 地位，任命する-script 追加するs:

"Later.—Our special 特派員 知らせるs us that the 予選 裁判，公判 of the 'Seven-of-Hearts' has not been 満足な. It is やめる likely that the 計画（する）s sold and 配達するd by the Varin brothers did not 含む the final 文書 carried by Louis Lacombe to Mon. Andermatt on the day of his 見えなくなる, a 文書 that was 不可欠の to a 徹底的な understanding of the 発明. It 含む／封じ込めるd a 要約 of the final 結論s of the inventor, and 見積（る）s and 人物／姿／数字s not 含む／封じ込めるd in the other papers. Without this 文書, the 計画（する）s are incomplete; on the other 手渡す, without the 計画（する）s, the 文書 is worthless.

"Now is the time to 行為／法令／行動する and 回復する what belongs to us. It may be a difficult 事柄, but we rely upon the 援助 of Mon. Andermatt. It will be to his 利益／興味 to explain his 行為／行う which has hitherto been so strange and inscrutable. He will explain not only why he 隠すd these facts at the time of the 自殺 of Etienne Varin, but also why he has never 明らかにする／漏らすd the 見えなくなる of the paper—a fact 井戸／弁護士席 known to him. He will tell why, during the last six years, he paid 秘かに調査するs to watch the movements of the Varin brothers. We 推定する／予想する from him, not only words, but 行為／法令／行動するs. And at once. さもなければ—"

The 脅し was plainly 表明するd. But of what did it consist? What whip was Salvator, the 匿名の／不明の writer of the article, 持つ／拘留するing over the 長，率いる of Mon. Andermatt?

An army of reporters attacked the 銀行業者, and ten interviewers 発表するd the scornful manner in which they were 扱う／治療するd. Thereupon, the "Echo de フラン" 発表するd its position in these words:

"Whether Mon. Andermatt is willing or not, he will be, henceforth, our 協力者 in the work we have undertaken."

* * *

Daspry and I were dining together on the day on which that 告示 appeared. That evening, with the newspapers spread over my （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, we discussed the 事件／事情／状勢 and 診察するd it from every point of 見解（をとる） with that exasperation that a person feels when walking in the dark and finding himself 絶えず 落ちるing over the same 障害s. Suddenly, without any 警告 どれでも, the door opened and a lady entered. Her 直面する was hidden behind a 厚い 隠す. I rose at once and approached her.

"Is it you, monsieur, who lives here?" she asked.

"Yes, madame, but I do not understand—"

"The gate was not locked," she explained.

"But the vestibule door?"

She did not reply, and it occurred to me that she had used the servants' 入り口. How did she know the way? Then there was a silence that was やめる embarrassing. She looked at Daspry, and I was 強いるd to introduce him. I asked her to be seated and explain the 反対する of her visit. She raised her 隠す, and I saw that she was a brunette with 正規の／正選手 features and, though not handsome, she was attractive—principally, on account of her sad, dark 注目する，もくろむs.

"I am Madame Andermatt," she said.

"Madame Andermatt!" I repeated, with astonishment.

After a 簡潔な／要約する pause, she continued with a 発言する／表明する and manner that were やめる 平易な and natural:

"I have come to see you about that 事件／事情／状勢—you know. I thought I might be able to 得る some （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）—"

"Mon Dieu, madame, I know nothing but what has already appeared in the papers. But if you will point out in what way I can help you..."

"I do not know...I do not know."

Not until then did I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that her 静める demeanor was assumed, and that some poignant grief was 隠すd beneath that 空気／公表する of tranquility. For a moment, we were silent and embarrassed. Then Daspry stepped 今後, and said:

"Will you 許す me to ask you a few questions?"

"Yes, yes," she cried. "I will answer."

"You will answer...whatever those questions may be?"

"Yes."

"Did you know Louis Lacombe?" he asked.

"Yes, through my husband."

"When did you see him for the last time?"

"The evening he dined with us."

"At that time, was there anything to lead you to believe that you would never see him again?"

"No. But he had spoken of a trip to Russia—in a vague way."

"Then you 推定する／予想するd to see him again?"

"Yes. He was to dine with us, two days later."

"How do you explain his 見えなくなる?"

"I cannot explain it."

"And Mon. Andermatt?"

"I do not know."

"Yet the article published in the 'Echo de フラン' 示すs—"

"Yes, that the Varin brothers had something to do with his 見えなくなる."

"Is that your opinion?"

"Yes."

"On what do you base your opinion?"

"When he left our house, Louis Lacombe carried a satchel 含む／封じ込めるing all the papers relating to his 発明. Two days later, my husband, in a conversation with one of the Varin brothers, learned that the papers were in their 所有／入手."

"And he did not 公然と非難する them?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because there was something else in the satchel—something besides the papers of Louis Lacombe."

"What was it?"

She hesitated; was on the point of speaking, but, finally, remained silent. Daspry continued:

"I 推定する that is why your husband has kept a の近くに watch over their movements instead of 知らせるing the police. He hoped to 回復する the papers and, at the same time, that 妥協ing article which has enabled the two brothers to 持つ／拘留する over him 脅しs of （危険などに）さらす and ゆすり，恐喝."

"Over him, and over me."

"Ah! over you, also?"

"Over me, in particular."

She uttered the last words in a hollow 発言する／表明する. Daspry 観察するd it; he paced to and fro for a moment, then, turning to her, asked:

"Had you written to Louis Lacombe?"

"Of course. My husband had 商売／仕事 with him—"

"Apart from those 商売／仕事 letters, had you written to Louis Lacombe...other letters? Excuse my 主張, but it is 絶対 necessary that I should know the truth. Did you 令状 other letters?"

"Yes," she replied, blushing.

"And those letters （機の）カム into the 所有／入手 of the Varin brothers?"

"Yes."

"Does Mon. Andermatt know it?"

"He has not seen them, but Alfred Varin has told him of their 存在 and 脅すd to publish them if my husband should take any steps against him. My husband was afraid...of a スキャンダル."

"But he has tried to 回復する the letters?"

"I think so; but I do not know. You see, after that last interview with Alfred Varin, and after some 厳しい words between me and my husband in which he called me to account—we live as strangers."

"In that 事例／患者, as you have nothing to lose, what do you 恐れる?"

"I may be indifferent to him now, but I am the woman that he has loved, the one he would still love—oh! I am やめる sure of that," she murmured, in a 熱烈な 発言する／表明する, "he would still love me if he had not got 持つ／拘留する of those 悪口を言う／悪態d letters—"

"What! Did he 後継する?...But the two brothers still 反抗するd him?"

"Yes, and they 誇るd of having a 安全な・保証する hiding-place."

"井戸／弁護士席?"

"I believe my husband has discovered that hiding-place."

"Ah! where was it?"

"Here."

"Here!" I cried in alarm.

"Yes. I always had that 疑惑. Louis Lacombe was very ingenious and amused himself in his leisure hours, by making 安全なs and locks. No 疑問, the Varin brothers were aware of that fact and 利用するd one of Lacombe's 安全なs in which to 隠す the letters...and other things, perhaps."

"But they did not live here," I said.

"Before you （機の）カム, four months ago, the house had been 空いている for some time. And they may have thought that your presence here would not 干渉する with them when they 手配中の，お尋ね者 to get the papers. But they did not count on my husband, who （機の）カム here on the night of 22 June, 軍隊d the 安全な, took what he was 捜し出すing, and left his card to 知らせる the two brothers that he 恐れるd them no more, and that their positions were now 逆転するd. Two days later, after reading the article in the 'Gil Blas,' Etienne Varin （機の）カム here, remained alone in this room, 設立する the 安全な empty, and...killed himself."

After a moment, Daspry said:

"A very simple theory...Has Mon. Andermatt spoken to you since then?"

"No."

"Has his 態度 toward you changed in any way? Does he appear more 暗い／優うつな, more anxious?"

"No, I 港／避難所't noticed any change."

"And yet you think he has 安全な・保証するd the letters. Now, in my opinion, he has not got those letters, and it was not he who （機の）カム here on the night of 22 June."

"Who was it, then?"

"The mysterious individual who is managing this 事件／事情／状勢, who 持つ／拘留するs all the threads in his 手渡すs, and whose invisible but far-reaching 力／強力にする we have felt from the beginning. It was he and his friends who entered this house on 22 June; it was he who discovered the hiding-place of the papers; it was he who left Mon. Andermatt's card; it is he who now 持つ／拘留するs the correspondence and the 証拠 of the treachery of the Varin brothers."

"Who is he?" I asked, impatiently.

"The man who 令状s letters to the 'Echo de フラン'... Salvator! Have we not 納得させるing 証拠 of that fact? Does he not について言及する in his letters 確かな 詳細（に述べる）s that no one could know, except the man who had thus discovered the secrets of the two brothers?"

"井戸／弁護士席, then," stammered Madame Andermatt, in 広大な／多数の／重要な alarm, "he has my letters also, and it is he who now 脅すs my husband. Mon Dieu! What am I to do?"

"令状 to him," 宣言するd Daspry. "Confide in him without reserve. Tell him all you know and all you may hereafter learn. Your 利益／興味 and his 利益／興味 are the same. He is not working against Mon. Andermatt, but against Alfred Varin. Help him."

"How?"

"Has your husband the 文書 that 完全にするs the 計画（する）s of Louis Lacombe?"

"Yes."

"Tell that to Salvator, and, if possible, procure the 文書 for him. 令状 to him at once. You 危険 nothing."

The advice was bold, dangerous even at first sight, but Madame Andermatt had no choice. Besides, as Daspry had said, she ran no 危険. If the unknown writer were an enemy, that step would not 悪化させる the 状況／情勢. If he were a stranger 捜し出すing to 遂行する a particular 目的, he would attach to those letters only a 第２位 importance. Whatever might happen, it was the only 解答 申し込む／申し出d to her, and she, in her 苦悩, was only too glad to 行為／法令／行動する on it. She thanked us effusively, and 約束d to keep us 知らせるd.

In fact, two days later, she sent us the に引き続いて letter that she had received from Salvator:

"Have not 設立する the letters, but I will get them. 残り／休憩（する） 平易な. I am watching everything. S."

I looked at the letter. It was in the same handwriting as the 公式文書，認める I 設立する in my 調書をとる／予約する on the night of 22 June.

Daspry was 権利. Salvator was, indeed, the originator of that 事件／事情／状勢.

* * *

We were beginning to see a little light coming out of the 不明瞭 that surrounded us, and an 予期しない light was thrown on 確かな points; but other points yet remained obscure—for instance, the finding of the two seven-of-hearts. Perhaps I was unnecessarily 関心d about those two cards whose seven 穴をあけるd 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs had appeared to me under such startling circumstances! Yet I could not 差し控える from asking myself: What 役割 will they play in the 演劇? What importance do they 耐える? What 結論 must be drawn from the fact that the 潜水艦 建設するd from the 計画（する）s of Louis Lacombe bore the 指名する of "Seven-of-Hearts"?

Daspry gave little thought to the other two cards; he 充てるd all his attention to another problem which he considered more 緊急の; he was 捜し出すing the famous hiding-place.

"And who knows," said he, "I may find the letters that Salvator did not find—by inadvertence, perhaps. It is improbable that the Varin brothers would have 除去するd from a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, which they みなすd inaccessible, the 武器 which was so 価値のある to them."

And he continued to search. In a short time, the large room held no more secrets for him, so he 延長するd his 調査s to the other rooms. He 診察するd the 内部の and the exterior, the 石／投石するs of the 創立／基礎, the bricks in the 塀で囲むs; he raised the 予定するs of the roof.

One day, he （機の）カム with a pickaxe and a spade, gave me the spade, kept the pickaxe, pointed to the 隣接する 空いている lots, and said: "Come."

I followed him, but I 欠如（する）d his enthusiasm. He divided the 空いている land into several sections which he 診察するd in turn. At last, in a corner, at the angle formed by the 塀で囲むs of two 隣接地の proprietors, a small pile of earth and gravel, covered with briers and grass, attracted his attention. He attacked it. I was 強いるd to help him. For an hour, under a hot sun, we labored without success. I was discouraged, but Daspry 勧めるd me on. His ardor was as strong as ever.

At last, Daspry's pickaxe 明らかにするd some bones—the remains of a 骸骨／概要 to which some 捨てるs of 着せる／賦与するing still hung. Suddenly, I turned pale. I had discovered, sticking in the earth, a small piece of アイロンをかける 削減（する） in the form of a rectangle, on which I thought I could see red 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs. I stooped and 選ぶd it up. That little アイロンをかける plate was the exact size of a playing card, and the red 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs, made with red lead, were arranged upon it in a manner 類似の to the seven-of-hearts, and each 位置／汚点／見つけ出す was pierced with a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 穴を開ける 類似の to the perforations in the two playing cards.

"Listen, Daspry, I have had enough of this. You can stay if it 利益／興味s you. But I am going."

Was that 簡単に the 表現 of my excited 神経s? Or was it the result of a laborious 仕事 遂行する／発効させるd under a 燃やすing sun? I know that I trembled as I walked away, and that I went to bed, where I remained forty-eight hours, restless and feverish, haunted by 骸骨／概要s that danced around me and threw their bleeding hearts at my 長，率いる.

Daspry was faithful to me. He （機の）カム to my house every day, and remained three or four hours, which he spent in the large room, ferreting, 強くたたくing, （電話線からの）盗聴.

"The letters are here, in this room," he said, from time to time, "they are here. I will 火刑／賭ける my life on it."

* * *

On the morning of the third day I arose—feeble yet, but cured. A 相当な breakfast 元気づけるd me up. But a letter that I received that afternoon 与える／捧げるd, more than anything else, to my 完全にする 回復, and 誘発するd in me a lively curiosity. This was the letter:

Monsieur,

The 演劇, the first 行為／法令／行動する of which transpired on the night of 22 June, is now 製図／抽選 to a の近くに. 軍隊 of circumstances 強要する me to bring the two 主要な／長／主犯 actors in that 演劇 直面する to 直面する, and I wish that 会合 to take place in your house, if you will be so 肉親，親類d as to give me the use of it for this evening from nine o'clock to eleven. It will be advisable to give your servant leave of absence for the evening, and, perhaps, you will be so 肉親，親類d as to leave the field open to the two adversaries. You will remember that when I visited your house on the night of 22 June, I took excellent care of your 所有物／資産／財産. I feel that I would do you an 不正 if I should 疑問, for one moment, your 絶対の discretion in this 事件／事情／状勢. Your 充てるd,
SALVATOR.

I was amused at the facetious トン of his letter and also at the whimsical nature of his request. There was a charming 陳列する，発揮する of 信用／信任 and candor in his language, and nothing in the world could have induced me to deceive him or 返す his 信用／信任 with ingratitude.

I gave my servant a theatre ticket, and he left the house at eight o'clock. A few minutes later, Daspry arrived. I showed him the letter.

"井戸／弁護士席?" said he.

"井戸／弁護士席, I have left the garden gate 打ち明けるd, so anyone can enter."

"And you—are you going away?"

"Not at all. I ーするつもりである to stay 権利 here."

"But he asks you to go—"

"But I am not going. I will be 控えめの, but I am 解決するd to see what takes place."

"Ma foi!" exclaimed Daspry, laughing, "you are 権利, and I shall stay with you. I shouldn't like to 行方不明になる it."

We were interrupted by the sound of the door-bell.

"Here already?" said Daspry, "twenty minutes ahead of time! Incredible!"

I went to the door and 勧めるd in the 訪問者. It was Madame Andermatt. She was faint and nervous, and in a stammering 発言する／表明する, she ejaculated:

"My husband...is coming...he has an 任命... they ーするつもりである to give him the letters..."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"By chance. A message （機の）カム for my husband while we were at dinner. The servant gave it to me by mistake. My husband grabbed it quickly, but he was too late. I had read it."

"You read it?"

"Yes. It was something like this: 'At nine o'clock this evening, be at Boulevard Maillot with the papers connected with the 事件／事情／状勢. In 交流, the letters.' So, after dinner, I 急いでd here."

"Unknown to your husband?"

"Yes."

"What do you think about it?" asked Daspry, turning to me.

"I think as you do, that Mon. Andermatt is one of the 招待するd guests."

"Yes, but for what 目的?"

"That is what we are going to find out."

I led Daspry and Madame Andermatt to a large room. The three of us could hide comfortably behind the velvet chimney-mantle, and 観察する all that should happen in the room. We seated ourselves there, with Madame Andermatt in the centre.

The clock struck nine. A few minutes later, the garden gate creaked upon its hinges. I 自白する that I was 大いに agitated. I was about to learn the 重要な to the mystery. The startling events of the last few weeks were about to be explained, and, under my 注目する，もくろむs, the last 戦う／戦い was going to be fought. Daspry 掴むd the 手渡す of Madame Andermatt, and said to her:

"Not a word, not a movement! Whatever you may see or hear, keep 静かな!"

Some one entered. It was Alfred Varin. I 認めるd him at once, 借りがあるing to the の近くに resemblance he bore to his brother Etienne. There was the same slouching gait; the same cadaverous 直面する covered with a 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd.

He entered with the nervous 空気／公表する of a man who is accustomed to 恐れる the presence of 罠（にかける）s and 待ち伏せ／迎撃するs; who scents and 避けるs them. He ちらりと見ることd about the room, and I had the impression that the chimney, masked with a velvet portiere, did not please him. He took three steps in our direction, when something 原因（となる）d him to turn and walk toward the old mosaic king, with the flowing 耐えるd and flamboyant sword, which he 診察するd minutely, 開始するing on a 議長，司会を務める and に引き続いて with his fingers the 輪郭（を描く）s of the shoulders and 長，率いる and feeling 確かな parts of the 直面する. Suddenly, he leaped from the 議長，司会を務める and walked away from it. He had heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Mon. Andermatt appeared at the door.

"You! You!" exclaimed the 銀行業者. "Was it you who brought me here?"

"I? By no means," 抗議するd Varin, in a rough, jerky 発言する／表明する that reminded me of his brother, "on the contrary, it was your letter that brought me here."

"My letter?"

"A letter 調印するd by you, in which you 申し込む／申し出d—"

"I never wrote to you," 宣言するd Mon. Andermatt.

"You did not 令状 to me!"

Instinctively, Varin was put on his guard, not against the 銀行業者, but against the unknown enemy who had drawn him into this 罠（にかける）. A second time, he looked in our direction, then walked toward the door. But Mon. Andermatt 閉めだした his passage.

"井戸／弁護士席, where are you going, Varin?"

"There is something about this 事件／事情／状勢 I don't like. I am going home. Good evening."

"One moment!"

"No need of that, Mon. Andermatt. I have nothing to say to you."

"But I have something to say to you, and this is a good time to say it."

"Let me pass."

"No, you will not pass."

Varin recoiled before the resolute 態度 of the 銀行業者, as he muttered:

"井戸／弁護士席, then, be quick about it."

One thing astonished me; and I have no 疑問 my two companions experienced a 類似の feeling. Why was Salvator not there? Was he not a necessary party at this 会議／協議会? Or was he 満足させるd to let these two adversaries fight it out between themselves? At all events, his absence was a 広大な／多数の／重要な 失望, although it did not detract from the 劇の strength of the 状況／情勢.

After a moment, Mon. Andermatt approached Varin and, 直面する to 直面する, 注目する，もくろむ to 注目する，もくろむ, said:

"Now, after all these years and when you have nothing more to 恐れる, you can answer me candidly: What have you done with Louis Lacombe?"

"What a question! As if I knew anything about him!"

"You do know! You and your brother were his constant companions, almost lived with him in this very house. You knew all about his 計画（する）s and his work. And the last night I ever saw Louis Lacombe, when I parted with him at my door, I saw two men slinking away in the 影をつくる／尾行するs of the trees. That, I am ready to 断言する to."

"井戸／弁護士席, what has that to do with me?"

"The two men were you and your brother."

"証明する it."

"The best proof is that, two days later, you yourself showed me the papers and the 計画（する）s that belonged to Lacombe and 申し込む／申し出d to sell them. How did these papers come into your 所有／入手?"

"I have already told you, Mon. Andermatt, that we 設立する them on Louis Lacombe's （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, the morning after his 見えなくなる."

"That is a 嘘（をつく）!"

"証明する it."

"The 法律 will 証明する it."

"Why did you not 控訴，上告 to the 法律?"

"Why? Ah! Why—," stammered the 銀行業者, with a slight 陳列する，発揮する of emotion.

"You know very 井戸／弁護士席, Mon. Andermatt, if you had the least certainty of our 犯罪, our little 脅し would not have stopped you."

"What 脅し? Those letters? Do you suppose I ever gave those letters a moment's thought?"

"If you did not care for the letters, why did you 申し込む／申し出 me thousands of フランs for their return? And why did you have my brother and me 跡をつけるd like wild beasts?"

"To 回復する the 計画（する）s."

"Nonsense! You 手配中の，お尋ね者 the letters. You knew that as soon as you had the letters in your 所有／入手, you could 公然と非難する us. Oh! no, I couldn't part with them!"

He laughed heartily, but stopped suddenly, and said:

"But, enough of this! We are 単に going over old ground. We make no 前進. We had better let things stand as they are."

"We will not let them stand as they are," said the 銀行業者, "and since you have referred to the letters, let me tell you that you will not leave this house until you 配達する up those letters."

"I shall go when I please."

"You will not."

"Be careful, Mon. Andermatt. I 警告する you—"

"I say, you shall not go."

"We will see about that," cried Varin, in such a 激怒（する） that Madame Andermatt could not 抑える a cry of 恐れる. Varin must have heard it, for he now tried to 軍隊 his way out. Mon. Andermatt 押し進めるd him 支援する. Then I saw him put his 手渡す into his coat pocket.

"For the last time, let me pass," he cried.

"The letters, first!"

Varin drew a revolver and, pointing it at Mon. Andermatt, said:

"Yes or no?"

The 銀行業者 stopped quickly. There was the sound of a ピストル 発射. The 武器 fell from Varin's 手渡す. I was amazed. The 発射 was 解雇する／砲火／射撃d の近くに to me. It was Daspry who had 解雇する／砲火／射撃d it at Varin, 原因（となる）ing him to 減少（する） the revolver. In a moment, Daspry was standing between the two men, 直面するing Varin; he said to him, with a sneer:

"You were lucky, my friend, very lucky. I 解雇する／砲火／射撃d at your 手渡す and struck only the revolver."

Both of them looked at him, surprised. Then he turned to the 銀行業者, and said:

"I beg your 容赦, monsieur, for 干渉 in your 商売／仕事; but, really, you play a very poor game. Let me 持つ／拘留する the cards."

Turning again to Varin, Daspry said:

"It's between us two, comrade, and play fair, if you please. Hearts are trumps, and I play the seven."

Then Daspry held up, before Varin's bewildered 注目する，もくろむs, the little アイロンをかける plate, 示すd with the seven red 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs. It was a terrible shock to Varin. With livid features, 星／主役にするing 注目する，もくろむs, and an 空気／公表する of 激しい agony, the man seemed to be hypnotized at the sight of it.

"Who are you?" he gasped.

"One who meddles in other people's 商売／仕事, 負かす／撃墜する to the very 底（に届く）."

"What do you want?"

"What you brought here tonight."

"I brought nothing."

"Yes, you did, or you wouldn't have come. This morning, you received an 招待 to come here at nine o'clock, and bring with you all the papers held by you. You are here. Where are the papers?"

There was in Daspry's 発言する／表明する and manner a トン of 当局 that I did not understand; his manner was usually やめる 穏やかな and 懐柔的な. 絶対 征服する／打ち勝つd, Varin placed his 手渡す on one of his pockets, and said:

"The papers are here."

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"All that you took from Louis Lacombe and afterwards sold to Major 出身の Lieben?"

"Yes."

"Are these the copies or the 初めのs?"

"I have the 初めのs."

"How much do you want for them?"

"One hundred thousand フランs."

"You are crazy," said Daspry. "Why, the major gave you only twenty thousand, and that was like money thrown into the sea, as the boat was a 失敗 at the 予選 裁判，公判s."

"They didn't understand the 計画（する）s."

"The 計画（する）s are not 完全にする."

"Then, why do you ask me for them?"

"Because I want them. I 申し込む／申し出 you five thousand フランs—not a sou more."

"Ten thousand. Not a sou いっそう少なく."

"Agreed," said Daspry, who now turned to Mon. Andermatt, and said:

"Monsieur will kindly 調印する a check for the 量."

"But...I 港／避難所't got—"

"Your check-調書をとる／予約する? Here it is."

Astounded, Mon. Andermatt 診察するd the check-調書をとる／予約する that Daspry 手渡すd to him.

"It is 地雷," he gasped. "How does that happen?"

"No idle words, monsieur, if you please. You have 単に to 調印する."

The 銀行業者 took out his fountain pen, filled out the check and 調印するd it. Varin held out his 手渡す for it.

"Put 負かす／撃墜する your 手渡す," said Daspry, "there is something more." Then, to the 銀行業者, he said: "You asked for some letters, did you not?"

"Yes, a 一括 of letters."

"Where are they, Varin?"

"I 港／避難所't got them."

"Where are they, Varin?"

"I don't know. My brother had 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of them."

"They are hidden in this room."

"In that 事例／患者, you know where they are."

"How should I know?"

"Was it not you who 設立する the hiding-place? You appear to be as 井戸／弁護士席 知らせるd...as Salvator."

"The letters are not in the hiding-place."

"They are."

"Open it."

Varin looked at him, defiantly. Were not Daspry and Salvator the same person? Everything pointed to that 結論. If so, Varin 危険d nothing in 公表する／暴露するing a hiding-place already known.

"Open it," repeated Daspry.

"I have not got the seven of hearts."

"Yes, here it is," said Daspry, 手渡すing him the アイロンをかける plate. Varin recoiled in terror, and cried:

"No, no, I will not."

"Never mind," replied Daspry, as he walked toward the bearded king, climbed on a 議長，司会を務める and 適用するd the seven of hearts to the lower part of the sword in such a manner that the 辛勝する／優位s of the アイロンをかける plate 同時に起こる／一致するd 正確に／まさに with the two 辛勝する／優位s of the sword. Then, with the 援助 of an awl which he introduced alternately into each of the seven 穴を開けるs, he 圧力（をかける）d upon seven of the little mosaic 石／投石するs. As he 圧力（をかける）d upon the seventh one, a clicking sound was heard, and the entire 破産した／（警察が）手入れする of the king turned upon a pivot, 公表する／暴露するing a large 開始 lined with steel. It was really a 解雇する／砲火／射撃-proof 安全な.

"You can see, Varin, the 安全な is empty."

"So I see. Then, my brother has taken out the letters."

Daspry stepped 負かす／撃墜する from the 議長，司会を務める, approached Varin, and said:

"Now, no more nonsense with me. There is another hiding-place. Where is it?"

"There is 非，不，無."

"Is it money you want? How much?"

"Ten thousand."

"Monsieur Andermatt, are those letters 価値（がある） ten thousand フランs to you?"

"Yes," said the 銀行業者, 堅固に.

Varin の近くにd the 安全な, took the seven of hearts and placed it again on the sword at the same 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. He thrust the awl into each of the seven 穴を開けるs. There was the same clicking sound, but this time, strange to relate, it was only a 部分 of the 安全な that 回転するd on the pivot, 公表する／暴露するing やめる a small 安全な that was built within the door of the larger one. The packet of letters was here, tied with a tape, and 調印（する）d. Varin 手渡すd the packet to Daspry. The latter turned to the 銀行業者, and asked:

"Is the check ready, Monsieur Andermatt?"

"Yes."

"And you have also the last 文書 that you received from Louis Lacombe—the one that 完全にするs the 計画（する）s of the 潜水艦?"

"Yes."

The 交流 was made. Daspry pocketed the 文書 and the checks, and 申し込む／申し出d the packet of letters to Mon. Andermatt.

"This is what you 手配中の，お尋ね者, Monsieur."

The 銀行業者 hesitated a moment, as if he were afraid to touch those 悪口を言う／悪態d letters that he had sought so 熱望して. Then, with a nervous movement, he took them. の近くに to me, I heard a moan. I しっかり掴むd Madame Andermatt's 手渡す. It was 冷淡な.

"I believe, monsieur," said Daspry to the 銀行業者, "that our 商売／仕事 is ended. Oh! no thanks. It was only by a mere chance that I have been able to do you a good turn. Good-night."

Mon. Andermatt retired. He carried with him the letters written by his wife to Louis Lacombe.

"Marvelous!" exclaimed Daspry, delighted. "Everything is coming our way. Now, we have only to の近くに our little 事件／事情／状勢, comrade. You have the papers?"

"Here they are—all of them."

Daspry 診察するd them carefully, and then placed them in his pocket.

"やめる 権利. You have kept your word," he said.

"But—"

"But what?"

"The two checks? The money?" said Varin, 熱望して.

"井戸／弁護士席, you have a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of 保証／確信, my man. How dare you ask such a thing?"

"I ask only what is 予定 to me."

"Can you ask 支払う／賃金 for returning papers that you stole? 井戸／弁護士席, I think not!"

Varin was beside himself. He trembled with 激怒（する）; his 注目する，もくろむs were bloodshot.

"The money...the twenty thousand..." he stammered.

"Impossible! I need it myself."

"The money!"

"Come, be reasonable, and don't get excited. It won't do you any good."

Daspry 掴むd his arm so 強制的に, that Varin uttered a cry of 苦痛. Daspry continued:

"Now, you can go. The 空気／公表する will do you good. Perhaps you want me to show you the way. Ah! yes, we will go together to the 空いている lot 近づく here, and I will show you a little 塚 of earth and 石／投石するs and under it—"

"That is 誤った! That is 誤った!"

"Oh! no, it is true. That little アイロンをかける plate with the seven 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs on it （機の）カム from there. Louis Lacombe always carried it, and you buried it with the 団体／死体—and with some other things that will 証明する very 利益／興味ing to a 裁判官 and 陪審／陪審員団."

Varin covered his 直面する with his 手渡すs, and muttered:

"All 権利, I am beaten. Say no more. But I want to ask you one question. I should like to know—"

"What is it?"

"Was there a little casket in the large 安全な?"

"Yes."

"Was it there on the night of 22 June?"

"Yes."

"What did it 含む／封じ込める?"

"Everything that the Varin brothers had put in it—a very pretty collection of diamonds and pearls 選ぶd up here and there by the said brothers."

"And did you take it?"

"Of course I did. Do you 非難する me?"

"I understand...it was the 見えなくなる of that casket that 原因（となる）d my brother to kill himself."

"Probably. The 見えなくなる of your correspondence was not a 十分な 動機. But the 見えなくなる of the casket...Is that all you wish to ask me?"

"One thing more: your 指名する?"

"You ask that with an idea of 捜し出すing 復讐."

"Parbleu! The （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs may be turned. Today, you are on 最高の，を越す. To-morrow—"

"It will be you."

"I hope so. Your 指名する?"

"Arsène Lupin."

"Arsène Lupin!"

The man staggered, as though stunned by a 激しい blow. Those two words had 奪うd him of all hope.

Daspry laughed, and said:

"Ah! did you imagine that a Monsieur Durand or Dupont could manage an 事件／事情／状勢 like this? No, it 要求するd the 技術 and cunning of Arsène Lupin. And now that you have my 指名する, go and 準備する your 復讐. Arsène Lupin will wait for you."

Then he 押し進めるd the bewildered Varin through the door.

"Daspry! Daspry!" I cried, 押し進めるing aside the curtain. He ran to me.

"What? What's the 事柄?"

"Madame Andermatt is ill."

He 急いでd to her, 原因（となる）d her to 吸い込む some salts, and, while caring for her, questioned me:

"井戸／弁護士席, what did it?"

"The letters of Louis Lacombe that you gave to her husband."

He struck his forehead and said:

"Did she think that I could do such a thing!...But, of course she would. Imbecile that I am!"

Madame Andermatt was now 生き返らせるd. Daspry took from his pocket a small 一括 正確に／まさに 類似の to the one that Mon. Andermatt had carried away.

"Here are your letters, Madame. These are the 本物の letters."

"But...the others?"

"The others are the same, rewritten by me and carefully worded. Your husband will not find anything objectionable in them, and will never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う the substitution since they were taken from the 安全な in his presence."

"But the handwriting—"

"There is no handwriting that cannot be imitated."

She thanked him in the same words she might have used to a man in her own social circle, so I 結論するd that she had not 証言，証人／目撃するd the final scene between Varin and Arsène Lupin. But the surprising 発覚 原因（となる）d me かなりの 当惑. Lupin! My club companion was 非，不，無 other than Arsène Lupin. I could not realize it. But he said, やめる at his 緩和する:

"You can say 別れの（言葉，会） to ジーンズ Daspry."

"Ah!"

"Yes, ジーンズ Daspry is going on a long 旅行. I shall send him to Morocco. There, he may find a death worthy of him. I may say that that is his 期待."

"But Arsène Lupin will remain?"

"Oh! Decidedly. Arsène Lupin is 簡単に at the threshold of his career, and he 推定する／予想するs—"

I was impelled by curiosity to interrupt him, and, 主要な him away from the 審理，公聴会 of Madame Andermatt, I asked:

"Did you discover the smaller 安全な yourself—the one that held the letters?"

"Yes, after a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of trouble. I 設立する it yesterday afternoon while you were asleep. And yet, God knows it was simple enough! But the simplest things are the ones that usually escape our notice." Then, showing me the seven of hearts, he 追加するd: "Of course I had guessed that, ーするために open the larger 安全な, this card must be placed on the sword of the mosaic king."

"How did you guess that?"

"やめる easily. Through 私的な （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, I knew that fact when I （機の）カム here on the evening of 22 June—"

"After you left me—"

"Yes, after turning the 支配する of our conversation to stories of 罪，犯罪 and 強盗 which were sure to 減ずる you to such a nervous 条件 that you would not leave your bed, but would 許す me to 完全にする my search 連続する."

"The 計画／陰謀 worked perfectly."

"井戸／弁護士席, I knew when I （機の）カム here that there was a casket 隠すd in a 安全な with a secret lock, and that the seven of hearts was the 重要な to that lock. I had 単に to place the card upon the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that was 明白に ーするつもりであるd for it. An hour's examination showed me where the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す was."

"One hour!"

"観察する the fellow in mosaic."

"The old emperor?"

"That old emperor is an exact 代表 of the king of hearts on all playing cards."

"That's 権利. But how does the seven of hearts open the larger 安全な at one time and the smaller 安全な at another time? And why did you open only the larger 安全な in the first instance? I mean on the night of 22 June."

"Why? Because I always placed the seven of hearts in the same way. I never changed the position. But, yesterday, I 観察するd that by 逆転するing the card, by turning it upside 負かす／撃墜する, the 協定 of the seven 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs on the mosaic was changed."

"Parbleu!"

"Of course, parbleu! But a person has to think of those things."

"There is something else: you did not know the history of those letters until Madame Andermatt—"

"Spoke of them before me? No. Because I 設立する in the 安全な, besides the casket, nothing but the correspondence of the two brothers which 公表する／暴露するd their treachery in regard to the 計画（する）s."

"Then it was by chance that you were led, first, to 調査／捜査する the history of the two brothers, and then to search for the 計画（する）s and 文書s relating to the 潜水艦?"

"簡単に by chance."

"For what 目的 did you make the search?"

"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Daspry, laughing, "how 深く，強烈に 利益／興味d you are!"

"The 支配する fascinates me."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, presently, after I have 護衛するd Madame Andermatt to a carriage, and 派遣（する）d a short story to the 'Echo de フラン,' I will return and tell you all about it."

He sat 負かす／撃墜する and wrote one of those short, （疑いを）晴らす-削減（する） articles which served to amuse and mystify the public. Who does not 解任する the sensation that followed that article produced throughout the entire world?

"Arsène Lupin has solved the problem recently submitted by Salvator. Having acquired 所有／入手 of all the 文書s and 初めの 計画（する）s of the engineer Louis Lacombe, he has placed them in the 手渡すs of the 大臣 of 海洋, and he has 長，率いるd a subscription 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） for the 目的 of 現在のing to the nation the first 潜水艦 建設するd from those 計画（する）s. His subscription is twenty thousand フランs."

"Twenty thousand フランs! The checks of Mon. Andermatt?" I exclaimed, when he had given me the paper to read.

"正確に／まさに. It was やめる 権利 that Varin should redeem his treachery."

* * *

And that is how I made the 知識 of Arsène Lupin. That is how I learned that ジーンズ Daspry, a member of my club, was 非，不，無 other than Arsène Lupin, gentleman-どろぼう. That is how I formed very agreeable 関係 of friendship with that famous man, and, thanks to the 信用／信任 with which he 栄誉（を受ける）d me, how I became his very humble and faithful historiographer.

7. Madame Imbert's 安全な

At three o'clock in the morning, there were still half a dozen carriages in 前線 of one of those small houses which form only the 味方する of the boulevard Berthier. The door of that house opened, and a number of guests, male and 女性（の）, 現れるd. The 大多数 of them entered their carriages and were quickly driven away, leaving behind only two men who walked 負かす／撃墜する Courcelles, where they parted, as one of them lived in that street. The other decided to return on foot as far as the Porte-Maillot. It was a beautiful winter's night, （疑いを）晴らす and 冷淡な; a night on which a きびきびした walk is agreeable and refreshing.

But, at the end of a few minutes, he had the disagreeable impression that he was 存在 followed. Turning around, he saw a man skulking amongst the trees. He was not a coward; yet he felt it advisable to 増加する his 速度(を上げる）. Then his pursuer 開始するd to run; and he みなすd it 慎重な to draw his revolver and 直面する him. But he had no time. The man 急ぐd at him and attacked him violently. すぐに, they were engaged in a desperate struggle, wherein he felt that his unknown 加害者 had the advantage. He called for help, struggled, and was thrown 負かす／撃墜する on a pile of gravel, 掴むd by the throat, and gagged with a handkerchief that his 加害者 軍隊d into his mouth. His 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd, and the man who was smothering him with his 負わせる arose to defend himself against an 予期しない attack. A blow from a 茎 and a kick from a boot; the man uttered two cries of 苦痛, and fled, limping and 悪口を言う／悪態ing. Without deigning to 追求する the 逃亡者／はかないもの, the new arrival stooped over the prostrate man and 問い合わせd:

"Are you 傷つける, monsieur?"

He was not 負傷させるd, but he was dazed and unable to stand. His 救助者 procured a carriage, placed him in it, and …を伴ってd him to his house on the avenue de la Grande-Armée. On his arrival there, やめる 回復するd, he 圧倒するd his saviour with thanks.

"I 借りがある you my life, monsieur, and I shall not forget it. I do not wish to alarm my wife at this time of night, but, to-morrow, she will be pleased to thank you 本人自身で. Come and breakfast with us. My 指名する is Ludovic Imbert. May I ask yours?"

"Certainly, monsieur."

And he 手渡すd Mon. Imbert a card 耐えるing the 指名する: "Arsène Lupin."

* * *

At that time, Arsène Lupin did not enjoy the celebrity which the Cahorn 事件／事情／状勢, his escape from the 刑務所，拘置所 de la Santé, and other brilliant 偉業／利用するs, afterwards 伸び（る）d for him. He had not even used the 指名する of Arsène Lupin. The 指名する was 特に invented to 指定する the 救助者 of Mon. Imbert; that is to say, it was in that 事件／事情／状勢 that Arsène Lupin was baptized. Fully 武装した and ready for the fray, it is true, but 欠如（する）ing the 資源s and 当局 which 命令（する） success, Arsène Lupin was then 単に an 見習い工 in a profession wherein he soon became a master.

With what a thrill of joy he 解任するd the 招待 he received that night! At last, he had reached his goal! At last, he had undertaken a 仕事 worthy of his strength and 技術! The Imbert millions! What a magnificent feast for an appetite like his!

He 用意が出来ている a special 洗面所 for the occasion; a shabby frock-coat, baggy trousers, a frayed silk hat, 井戸／弁護士席-worn collar and cuffs, all やめる 訂正する in form, but 耐えるing the unmistakable stamp of poverty. His cravat was a 黒人／ボイコット 略章 pinned with a 誤った diamond. Thus accoutred, he descended the stairs of the house in which he lived at Montmartre. At the third 床に打ち倒す, without stopping, he rapped on a の近くにd door with the 長，率いる of his 茎. He walked to the exterior boulevards. A tram-car was passing. He boarded it, and some one who had been に引き続いて him took a seat beside him. It was the lodger who 占領するd the room on the third 床に打ち倒す. A moment later, this man said to Lupin:

"井戸／弁護士席, 知事?"

"井戸／弁護士席, it is all 直す／買収する，八百長をするd."

"How?"

"I am going there to breakfast."

"You breakfast—there!"

"Certainly. Why not? I 救助（する）d Mon. Ludovic Imbert from 確かな death at your 手渡すs. Mon. Imbert is not devoid of 感謝. He 招待するd me to breakfast."

There was a 簡潔な／要約する silence. Then the other said:

"But you are not going to throw up the 計画／陰謀?"

"My dear boy," said Lupin, "when I arranged that little 事例／患者 of 強襲，強姦 and 殴打／砲列, when I took the trouble at three o'clock in the morning, to 非難する you with my 茎 and tap you with my boot at the 危険 of 負傷させるing my only friend, it was not my 意向 to forego the advantages to be 伸び（る）d from a 救助（する） so 井戸／弁護士席 arranged and 遂行する／発効させるd. Oh! no, not at all."

"But the strange 噂するs we hear about their fortune?"

"Never mind about that. For six months, I have worked on this 事件／事情／状勢, 調査／捜査するd it, 熟考する／考慮するd it, questioned the servants, the money-貸す人s and men of straw; for six months, I have 影をつくる／尾行するd the husband and wife. その結果, I know what I am talking about. Whether the fortune （機の）カム to them from old Brawford, as they pretend, or from some other source, I do not care. I know that it is a reality; that it 存在するs. And some day it will be 地雷."

"Bigre! One hundred millions!"

"Let us say ten, or even five—that is enough! They have a 安全な 十分な of 社債s, and there will be the devil to 支払う／賃金 if I can't get my 手渡すs on them."

The tram-car stopped at the Place de l'Etoile. The man whispered to Lupin:

"What am I to do now?"

"Nothing, at 現在の. You will hear from me. There is no hurry."

Five minutes later, Arsène Lupin was 上がるing the magnificent flight of stairs in the Imbert mansion, and Mon. Imbert introduced him to his wife. Madame Gervaise Imbert was a short plump woman, and very talkative. She gave Lupin a cordial welcome.

"I 願望（する）d that we should be alone to entertain our saviour," she said.

From the 手始め, they 扱う／治療するd "our saviour" as an old and valued friend. By the time dessert was served, their friendship was 井戸／弁護士席 固く結び付けるd, and 私的な 信用／信任s were 存在 交流d. Arsène 関係のある the story of his life, the life of his father as a 治安判事, the 悲しみs of his childhood, and his 現在の difficulties. Gervaise, in turn, spoke of her 青年, her marriage, the 親切 of the 老年の Brawford, the hundred millions that she had 相続するd, the 障害s that 妨げるd her from 得るing the enjoyment of her 相続物件, the moneys she had been 強いるd to borrow at an exorbitant 率 of 利益／興味, her endless 論争s with Brawford's 甥s, and the litigation! the （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令s! in fact, everything!

"Just think of it, Monsieur Lupin, the 社債s are there, in my husband's office, and if we detach a 選び出す／独身 coupon, we lose everything! They are there, in our 安全な, and we dare not touch them."

Monsieur Lupin shivered at the 明らかにする idea of his proximity to so much wealth. Yet he felt やめる 確かな that Monsieur Lupin would never を煩う the same difficulty as his fair hostess who 宣言するd she dare not touch the money.

"Ah! they are there!" he repeated, to himself; "they are there!"

A friendship formed under such circumstances soon led to closer relations. When 慎重に questioned, Arsène Lupin 自白するd his poverty and 苦しめる. すぐに, the unfortunate young man was 任命するd 私的な 長官 to the Imberts, husband and wife, at a salary of one hundred フランs a month. He was to come to the house every day and receive orders for his work, and a room on the second 床に打ち倒す was 始める，決める apart as his office. This room was 直接／まっすぐに over Mon. Imbert's office.

Arsène soon realized that his position as 長官 was essentially a sinecure. During the first two months, he had only four important letters to recopy, and was called only once to Mon. Imbert's office; その結果, he had only one 適切な時期 to 熟視する／熟考する, 公式に, the Imbert 安全な. Moreover, he noticed that the 長官 was not 招待するd to the social 機能（する）／行事s of the 雇用者. But he did not complain, as he preferred to remain, modestly, in the shade and 持続する his peace and freedom.

However, he was not wasting any time. From the beginning, he made 内密の visits to Mon. Imbert's office, and paid his 尊敬（する）・点s to the 安全な, which was 密封して の近くにd. It was an 巨大な 封鎖する of アイロンをかける and steel, 冷淡な and 厳しい in 外見, which could not be 軍隊d open by the ordinary 道具s of the 夜盗，押し込み強盗's 貿易（する）. But Arsène Lupin was not discouraged.

"Where 軍隊 fails, cunning 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるs," he said to himself. "The 必須の thing is to be on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す when the 適切な時期 occurs. In the 合間, I must watch and wait."

He made すぐに some 予選 準備s. After careful soundings made upon the 床に打ち倒す of his room, he introduced a lead 麻薬を吸う which 侵入するd the 天井 of Mon. Imbert's office at a point between the two screeds of the cornice. By means of this 麻薬を吸う, he hoped to see and hear what transpired in the room below.

Henceforth, he passed his days stretched at 十分な length upon the 床に打ち倒す. He frequently saw the Imberts 持つ／拘留するing a 協議 in 前線 of the 安全な, 調査／捜査するing 調書をとる／予約するs and papers. When they turned the combination lock, he tried to learn the 人物／姿／数字s and the number of turns they made to the 権利 and left. He watched their movements; he sought to catch their words. There was also a 重要な necessary to 完全にする the 開始 of the 安全な. What did they do with it? Did they hide it?

One day, he saw them leave the room without locking the 安全な. He descended the stairs quickly, and boldly entered the room. But they had returned.

"Oh! excuse me," he said, "I made a mistake in the door."

"Come in, Monsieur Lupin, come in," cried Madame Imbert, "are you not at home here? We want your advice. What 社債s should we sell? The foreign 安全s or the 政府 annuities?"

"But the （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令?" said Lupin, with surprise.

"Oh! it doesn't cover all the 社債s."

She opened the door of the 安全な and withdrew a 一括 of 社債s. But her husband 抗議するd.

"No, no, Gervaise, it would be foolish to sell the foreign 社債s. They are going up, whilst the annuities are as high as they ever will be. What do you think, my dear friend?"

The dear friend had no opinion; yet he advised the sacrifice of the annuities. Then she withdrew another 一括 and, from it, she took a paper at 無作為の. It 証明するd to be a three-per-cent annuity 価値（がある） two thousand フランs. Ludovic placed the 一括 of 社債s in his pocket. That afternoon, …を伴ってd by his 長官, he sold the annuities to a 在庫／株-仲買人 and realized forty-six thousand フランs.

Whatever Madame Imbert might have said about it, Arsène Lupin did not feel at home in the Imbert house. On the contrary, his position there was a peculiar one. He learned that the servants did not even know his 指名する. They called him "monsieur." Ludovic always spoke of him in the same way: "You will tell monsieur. Has monsieur arrived?" Why that mysterious 呼称?

Moreover, after their first 爆発 of enthusiasm, the Imberts seldom spoke to him, and, although 扱う／治療するing him with the consideration 予定 to a benefactor, they gave him little or no attention. They appeared to regard him as an eccentric character who did not like to be 乱すd, and they 尊敬（する）・点d his 孤立／分離 as if it were a stringent 支配する on his part. On one occasion, while passing through the vestibule, he heard Madame Imbert say to the two gentlemen:

"He is such a barbarian!"

"Very 井戸／弁護士席," he said to himself, "I am a barbarian."

And, without 捜し出すing to solve the question of their strange 行為／行う, he proceeded with the 死刑執行 of his own 計画（する）s. He had decided that he could not depend on chance, nor on the 怠慢，過失 of Madame Imbert, who carried the 重要な of the 安全な, and who, on locking the 安全な, invariably scattered the letters forming the combination of the lock. その結果, he must 行為／法令／行動する for himself.

Finally, an 出来事/事件 precipitated 事柄s; it was the vehement （選挙などの）運動をする 学校／設けるd against the Imberts by 確かな newspapers that （刑事）被告 the Imberts of 搾取するing. Arsène Lupin was 現在の at 確かな family 会議／協議会s when this new vicissitude was discussed. He decided that if he waited much longer, he would lose everything. During the next five days, instead of leaving the house about six o'clock, によれば his usual habit, he locked himself in his room. It was supposed that he had gone out. But he was lying on the 床に打ち倒す 調査するing the office of Mon. Imbert. During those five evenings, the 都合のよい 適切な時期 that he を待つd did not take place. He left the house about midnight by a 味方する door to which he held the 重要な.

But on the sixth day, he learned that the Imberts, actuated by the malevolent insinuations of their enemies, 提案するd to make an 在庫 of the contents of the 安全な.

"They will do it to-night," thought Lupin.

And truly, after dinner, Imbert and his wife retired to the office and 開始するd to 診察する the 調書をとる／予約するs of account and the 安全s 含む／封じ込めるd in the 安全な. Thus, one hour after another passed away. He heard the servants go upstairs to their rooms. No one now remained on the first 床に打ち倒す. Midnight! The Imberts were still at work.

"I must get to work," murmured Lupin.

He opened his window. It opened on a 法廷，裁判所. Outside, everything was dark and 静かな. He took from his desk a knotted rope, fastened it to the balcony in 前線 of his window, and 静かに descended as far as the window below, which was that of the of Imbert's office. He stood upon the balcony for a moment, motionless, with attentive ear and watchful 注目する，もくろむ, but the 激しい curtains effectually 隠すd the 内部の of the room. He 慎重に 押し進めるd on the 二塁打 window. If no one had 診察するd it, it せねばならない 産する／生じる to the slightest 圧力, for, during the afternoon, he had so 直す／買収する，八百長をするd the bolt that it would not enter the 中心的要素.

The window 産する／生じるd to his touch. Then, with infinite care, he 押し進めるd it open 十分に to 収容する／認める his 長，率いる. He parted the curtains a few インチs, looked in, and saw Mon. Imbert and his wife sitting in 前線 of the 安全な, 深く，強烈に 吸収するd in their work and speaking softly to each other at rare intervals.

He calculated the distance between him and them, considered the exact movements he would 要求する to make ーするために 打ち勝つ them, one after the other, before they could call for help, and he was about to 急ぐ upon them, when Madame Imbert said:

"Ah! the room is getting やめる 冷淡な. I am going to bed. And you, my dear?"

"I shall stay and finish."

"Finish! Why, that will take you all night."

"Not at all. An hour, at the most."

She retired. Twenty minutes, thirty minutes passed. Arsène 押し進めるd the window a little さらに先に open. The curtains shook. He 押し進めるd once more. Mon. Imbert turned, and, seeing the curtains blown by the 勝利，勝つd, he rose to の近くに the window.

There was not a cry, not the trace of struggle. With a few 正確な moments, and without 原因（となる）ing him the least 傷害, Arsène stunned him, wrapped the curtain about his 長，率いる, bound him 手渡す and foot, and did it all in such a manner that Mon. Imbert had no 適切な時期 to 認める his 加害者.

Quickly, he approached the 安全な, 掴むd two 一括s that he placed under his arm, left the office, and opened the servants' gate. A carriage was 駅／配置するd in the street.

"Take that, first—and follow me," he said to the coachman. He returned to the office, and, in two trips, they emptied the 安全な. Then Arsène went to his own room, 除去するd the rope, and all other traces of his 内密の work.

A few hours later, Arsène Lupin and his assistant 診察するd the 盗品. Lupin was not disappointed, as he had foreseen that the wealth of the Imberts had been 大いに 誇張するd. It did not consist of hundreds of millions, nor even tens of millions. Yet it 量d to a very respectable sum, and Lupin 表明するd his satisfaction.

"Of course," he said, "there will be a かなりの loss when we come to sell the 社債s, as we will have to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of them surreptitiously at 減ずるd prices. In the 合間, they will 残り／休憩（する） 静かに in my desk を待つing a propitious moment."

Arsène saw no 推論する／理由 why he should not go to the Imbert house the next day. But a perusal of the morning papers 明らかにする／漏らすd this startling fact: Ludovic and Gervaise Imbert had disappeared.

When the officers of the 法律 掴むd the 安全な and opened it, they 設立する there what Arsène Lupin had left—nothing.

* * *

Such are the facts; and I learned the sequel to them, one day, when Arsène Lupin was in a confidential mood. He was pacing to and fro in my room, with a nervous step and a feverish 注目する，もくろむ that were unusual to him.

"After all," I said to him, "it was your most successful 投機・賭ける."

Without making a direct reply, he said:

"There are some impenetrable secrets connected with that 事件／事情／状勢; some obscure points that escape my comprehension. For instance: What 原因（となる）d their flight? Why did they not take advantage of the help I unconsciously gave them? It would have been so simple to say: 'The hundred millions were in the 安全な. They are no longer there, because they have been stolen.'"

"They lost their 神経."

"Yes, that is it—they lost their 神経...On the other 手渡す, it is true—"

"What is true?"

"Oh! nothing."

What was the meaning of Lupin's reticence? It was やめる obvious that he had not told me everything; there was something he was loath to tell. His 行為／行う puzzled me. It must indeed be a very serious 事柄 to 原因（となる） such a man as Arsène Lupin even a momentary hesitation. I threw out a few questions at 無作為の.

"Have you seen them since?"

"No."

"And have you never experienced the slightest degree of pity for those unfortunate people?"

"I!" he exclaimed, with a start.

His sudden excitement astonished me. Had I touched him on a sore 位置／汚点／見つけ出す? I continued:

"Of course. If you had not left them alone, they might have been able to 直面する the danger, or, at least, made their escape with 十分な pockets."

"What do you mean?" he said, indignantly. "I suppose you have an idea that my soul should be filled with 悔恨?"

"Call it 悔恨 or 悔いるs—anything you like—"

"They are not 価値（がある） it."

"Have you no 悔いるs or 悔恨 for having stolen their fortune?"

"What fortune?"

"The 一括s of 社債s you took from their 安全な."

"Oh! I stole their 社債s, did I? I 奪うd them of a 部分 of their wealth? Is that my 罪，犯罪? Ah! my dear boy, you do not know the truth. You never imagined that those 社債s were not 価値（がある） the paper they were written on. Those 社債s were 誤った—they were 偽造の—every one of them—do you understand? THEY WERE COUNTERFEIT!"

I looked at him, astounded.

"偽造の! The four or five millions?"

"Yes, 偽造の!" he exclaimed, in a fit of 激怒（する）. "Only so many 捨てるs of paper! I couldn't raise a sou on the whole of them! And you ask me if I have any 悔恨. THEY are the ones who should have 悔恨 and pity. They played me for a simpleton; and I fell into their 罠（にかける）. I was their 最新の 犠牲者, their most stupid gull!"

He was 影響する／感情d by 本物の 怒り／怒る—the result of malice and 負傷させるd pride. He continued:

"From start to finish, I got the worst of it. Do you know the part I played in that 事件／事情／状勢, or rather the part they made me play? That of André Brawford! Yes, my boy, that is the truth, and I never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd it. It was not until afterwards, on reading the newspapers, that the light finally 夜明けd in my stupid brain. Whilst I was 提起する／ポーズをとるing as his 'saviour,' as the gentleman who had 危険d his life to 救助（する） Mon. Imbert from the clutches of an 暗殺者, they were passing me off as Brawford. Wasn't that splendid? That eccentric individual who had a room on the second 床に打ち倒す, that barbarian that was 展示（する）d only at a distance, was Brawford, and Brawford was I! Thanks to me, and to the 信用／信任 that I 奮起させるd under the 指名する of Brawford, they were enabled to borrow money from the 銀行業者s and other money-貸す人s. Ha! what an experience for a novice! And I 断言する to you that I shall 利益（をあげる） by the lesson!"

He stopped, 掴むd my arm, and said to me, in a トン of exasperation:

"My dear fellow, at this very moment, Gervaise Imbert 借りがあるs me fifteen hundred フランs."

I could not 差し控える from laughter, his 激怒（する） was so grotesque. He was making a mountain out of a molehill. In a moment, he laughed himself, and said:

"Yes, my boy, fifteen hundred フランs. You must know that I had not received one sou of my 約束d salary, and, more than that, she had borrowed from me the sum of fifteen hundred フランs. All my youthful 貯金! And do you know why? To 充てる the money to charity! I am giving you a straight story. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 it for some poor people she was 補助装置ing—unknown to her husband. And my hard-earned money was wormed out of me by that silly pretense! Isn't it amusing, hein? Arsène Lupin done out of fifteen hundred フランs by the fair lady from whom he stole four millions in 偽造の 社債s! And what a 広大な 量 of time and patience and cunning I expended to 達成する that result! It was the first time in my life that I was played for a fool, and I 率直に 自白する that I was fooled that time to the queen's taste!"

8. The 黒人／ボイコット Pearl

A violent （犯罪の）一味ing of the bell awakened the concierge of number 9, avenue Hoche. She pulled the doorstring, 不平（をいう）ing:

"I thought everybody was in. It must be three o'clock!"

"Perhaps it is some one for the doctor," muttered her husband.

At that moment, a 発言する／表明する 問い合わせd:

"Doctor Harel...what 床に打ち倒す?"

"Third 床に打ち倒す, left. But the doctor won't go out at night."

"He must go to-night."

The 訪問者 entered the vestibule, 上がるd to the first 床に打ち倒す, the second, the third, and, without stopping at the doctor's door, he continued to the fifth 床に打ち倒す. There, he tried two 重要なs. One of them fitted the lock.

"Ah! good!" he murmured, "that 簡単にするs the 商売／仕事 wonderfully. But before I 開始する work I had better arrange for my 退却／保養地. Let me see...have I had 十分な time to rouse the doctor and be 解任するd by him? Not yet...a few minutes more."

At the end of ten minutes, he descended the stairs, 不平（をいう）ing noisily about the doctor. The concierge opened the door for him and heard it click behind him. But the door did not lock, as the man had quickly 挿入するd a piece of アイロンをかける in the lock in such a manner that the bolt could not enter. Then, 静かに, he entered the house again, unknown to the concierge. In 事例／患者 of alarm, his 退却／保養地 was 保証するd. Noiselessly, he 上がるd to the fifth 床に打ち倒す once more. In the antechamber, by the light of his electric lantern, he placed his hat and overcoat on one of the 議長，司会を務めるs, took a seat on another, and covered his 激しい shoes with felt slippers.

"Ouf! Here I am—and how simple it was! I wonder why more people do not 可決する・採択する the profitable and pleasant 占領／職業 of 夜盗，押し込み強盗. With a little care and reflection, it becomes a most delightful profession. Not too 静かな and monotonous, of course, as it would then become wearisome."

He 広げるd a 詳細（に述べる）d 計画（する） of the apartment.

"Let me 開始する by 位置を示すing myself. Here, I see the vestibule in which I am sitting. On the street 前線, the 製図／抽選-room, the boudoir and dining-room. Useless to waste any time there, as it appears that the countess has a deplorable taste...not a bibelot of any value!...Now, let's get 負かす／撃墜する to 商売／仕事!... Ah! here is a 回廊（地帯）; it must lead to the bed 議会s. At a distance of three metres, I should come to the door of the wardrobe-closet which connects with the 議会 of the countess." He 倍のd his 計画（する）, 消滅させるd his lantern, and proceeded 負かす／撃墜する the 回廊（地帯）, counting his distance, thus:

"One metre...two metres...three metres...Here is the door...Mon Dieu, how 平易な it is! Only a small, simple bolt now separates me from the 議会, and I know that the bolt is 位置を示すd 正確に／まさに one metre, forty-three centimetres, from the 床に打ち倒す. So that, thanks to a small incision I am about to make, I can soon get rid of the bolt."

He drew from his pocket the necessary 器具s. Then the に引き続いて idea occurred to him:

"Suppose, by chance, the door is not bolted. I will try it first."

He turned the knob, and the door opened.

"My 勇敢に立ち向かう Lupin, surely fortune 好意s you...What's to be done now? You know the 状況／情勢 of the rooms; you know the place in which the countess hides the 黒人／ボイコット pearl. Therefore, ーするために 安全な・保証する the 黒人／ボイコット pearl, you have 簡単に to be more silent than silence, more invisible than 不明瞭 itself."

Arsène Lupin was 雇うd fully a half-hour in 開始 the second door—a glass door that led to the countess' bedchamber. But he 遂行するd it with so much 技術 and 警戒, that even had had the countess been awake, she would not have heard the slightest sound. によれば the 計画（する） of the rooms, that he 持つ／拘留するs, he has 単に to pass around a reclining 議長，司会を務める and, beyond that, a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する の近くに to the bed. On the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, there was a box of letter-paper, and the 黒人／ボイコット pearl was 隠すd in that box. He stooped and crept 慎重に over the carpet, に引き続いて the 輪郭（を描く）s of the reclining-議長，司会を務める. When he reached the extremity of it, he stopped ーするために repress the throbbing of his heart. Although he was not moved by any sense of 恐れる, he 設立する it impossible to 打ち勝つ the nervous 苦悩 that one usually feels in the 中央 of 深遠な silence. That circumstance astonished him, because he had passed through many more solemn moments without the slightest trace of emotion. No danger 脅すd him. Then why did his heart throb like an alarm-bell? Was it that sleeping woman who 影響する／感情d him? Was it the proximity of another pulsating heart?

He listened, and thought he could discern the rhythmical breathing of a person asleep. It gave him 信用／信任, like the presence of a friend. He sought and 設立する the armchair; then, by slow, 用心深い movements, 前進するd toward the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, feeling ahead of him with outstretched arm. His 権利 had touched one of the feet of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Ah! now, he had 簡単に to rise, take the pearl, and escape. That was fortunate, as his heart was leaping in his breast like a wild beast, and made so much noise that he 恐れるd it would waken the countess. By a powerful 成果／努力 of the will, he subdued the wild throbbing of his heart, and was about to rise from the 床に打ち倒す when his left 手渡す 遭遇（する）d, lying on the 床に打ち倒す, an 反対する which he 認めるd as a candlestick—an overturned candlestick. A moment later, his 手渡す 遭遇（する）d another 反対する: a clock—one of those small traveling clocks, covered with leather.

井戸／弁護士席! What had happened? He could not understand. That candlestick, that clock; why were those articles not in their accustomed places? Ah! what had happened in the dread silence of the night?

Suddenly a cry escaped him. He had touched—oh! some strange, unutterable thing! "No! no!" he thought, "it cannot be. It is some fantasy of my excited brain." For twenty seconds, thirty seconds, he remained motionless, terrified, his forehead bathed with perspiration, and his fingers still 保持するd the sensation of that dreadful 接触する.

Making a desperate 成果／努力, he 投機・賭けるd to 延長する his arm again. Once more, his 手渡す 遭遇（する）d that strange, unutterable thing. He felt it. He must feel it and find out what it is. He 設立する that it was hair, human hair, and a human 直面する; and that 直面する was 冷淡な, almost icy.

However frightful the circumstances may be, a man like Arsène Lupin 支配（する）／統制するs himself and 命令（する）s the 状況／情勢 as soon as he learns what it is. So, Arsène Lupin quickly brought his lantern into use. A woman was lying before him, covered with 血. Her neck and shoulders were covered with gaping 負傷させるs. He leaned over her and made a closer examination. She was dead.

"Dead! Dead!" he repeated, with a bewildered 空気／公表する.

He 星／主役にするd at those 直す／買収する，八百長をするd 注目する，もくろむs, that grim mouth, that livid flesh, and that 血—all that 血 which had flowed over the carpet and congealed there in 厚い, 黒人／ボイコット 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs. He arose and turned on the electric lights. Then he beheld all the 示すs of a desperate struggle. The bed was in a 明言する／公表する of 広大な／多数の／重要な disorder. On the 床に打ち倒す, the candlestick, and the clock, with the 手渡すs pointing to twenty minutes after eleven; then, その上の away, an overturned 議長，司会を務める; and, everywhere, there was 血, 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs of 血 and pools of 血.

"And the 黒人／ボイコット pearl?" he murmured.

The box of letter-paper was in its place. He opened it, 熱望して. The jewel-事例／患者 was there, but it was empty.

"Fichtre!" he muttered. "You 誇るd of your good fortune much too soon, my friend Lupin. With the countess lying 冷淡な and dead, and the 黒人／ボイコット pearl 消えるd, the 状況／情勢 is anything but pleasant. Get out of here as soon as you can, or you may get into serious trouble."

Yet, he did not move.

"Get out of here? Yes, of course. Any person would, except Arsène Lupin. He has something better to do. Now, to proceed in an 整然とした way. At all events, you have a （疑いを）晴らす 良心. Let us suppose that you are the commissary of police and that you are 訴訟／進行 to make an 調査 関心ing this 事件／事情／状勢—Yes, but in order to do that, I 要求する a clearer brain. 地雷 is muddled like a ragout."

He 宙返り／暴落するd into an armchair, with his clenched 手渡すs 圧力（をかける）d against his 燃やすing forehead.

* * *

The 殺人 of the avenue Hoche is one of those which have recently surprised and puzzled the Parisian public, and, certainly, I should never have について言及するd the 事件／事情／状勢 if the 隠す of mystery had not been 除去するd by Arsène Lupin himself. No one knew the exact truth of the 事例／患者.

Who did not know—from having met her in the Bois—the fair Léotine Zalti, the once-famous cantatrice, wife and 未亡人 of the Count d'Andillot; the Zalti, whose 高級な dazzled all Paris some twenty years ago; the Zalti who acquired an European 評判 for the magnificence of her diamonds and pearls? It was said that she wore upon her shoulders the 資本／首都 of several banking houses and the gold 地雷s of 非常に／多数の Australian companies. Skilful jewelers worked for Zalti as they had 以前は wrought for kings and queens. And who does not remember the 大災害 in which all that wealth was swallowed up? Of all that marvelous collection, nothing remained except the famous 黒人／ボイコット pearl. The 黒人／ボイコット pearl! That is to say a fortune, if she had wished to part with it.

But she preferred to keep it, to live in a commonplace apartment with her companion, her cook, and a man-servant, rather than sell that inestimable jewel. There was a 推論する／理由 for it; a 推論する／理由 she was not afraid to 公表する／暴露する: the 黒人／ボイコット pearl was the gift of an emperor! Almost 廃虚d, and 減ずるd to the most mediocre 存在, she remained faithful to the companion of her happy and brilliant 青年. The 黒人／ボイコット pearl never left her 所有／入手. She wore it during the day, and, at night, 隠すd it in a place known to her alone.

All these facts, 存在 republished in the columns of the public 圧力（をかける）, served to 刺激する curiosity; and, strange to say, but やめる obvious to those who have the 重要な to the mystery, the 逮捕（する） of the 推定するd 暗殺者 only 複雑にするd the question and 長引かせるd the excitement. Two days later, the newspapers published the に引き続いて item:

"（警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） has reached us of the 逮捕（する） of 勝利者 Danègre, the servant of the Countess d'Andillot. The 証拠 against him is （疑いを）晴らす and 納得させるing. On the silken sleeve of his liveried waistcoat, which 長，指導者 探偵，刑事 Dudouis 設立する in his garret between the mattresses of his bed, several 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs of 血 were discovered. In 新規加入, a cloth-covered button was 行方不明の from that 衣料品, and this button was 設立する beneath the bed of the 犠牲者.

"It is supposed that, after dinner, in place of going to his own room, Danègre slipped into the wardrobe-closet, and, through the glass door, had seen the countess hide the precious 黒人／ボイコット pearl. This is 簡単に a theory, as yet unverified by any 証拠. There is, also, another obscure point. At seven o'clock in the morning, Danègre went to the タバコ-shop on the Boulevard de Courcelles; the concierge and the shop-keeper both 断言する this fact. On the other 手渡す, the countess' companion and cook, who sleep at the end of the hall, both 宣言する that, when they arose at eight o'clock, the door of the antechamber and the door of the kitchen were locked. These two persons have been in the service of the countess for twenty years, and are above 疑惑. The question is: How did Danègre leave the apartment? Did he have another 重要な? These are 事柄s that the police will 調査／捜査する."

* * *

As a 事柄 of fact, the police 調査 threw no light on the mystery. It was learned that 勝利者 Danègre was a dangerous 犯罪の, a drunkard and a debauchee. But, as they proceeded with the 調査, the mystery 深くするd and new 複雑化s arose. In the first place, a young woman, Mlle. De Sinclèves, the cousin and 単独の heiress of the countess, 宣言するd that the countess, a month before her death, had written a letter to her and in it 述べるd the manner in which the 黒人／ボイコット pearl was 隠すd. The letter disappeared the day after she received it. Who had stolen it?

Again, the concierge 関係のある how she had opened the door for a person who had 問い合わせd for Doctor Harel. On 存在 questioned, the doctor 証言するd that no one had rung his bell. Then who was that person? An 共犯者?

The theory of an 共犯者 was thereupon 可決する・採択するd by the 圧力（をかける） and public, and also by Ganimard, the famous 探偵，刑事.

"Lupin is at the 底（に届く） of this 事件／事情／状勢," he said to the 裁判官.

"Bah!" exclaimed the 裁判官, "you have Lupin on the brain. You see him everywhere."

"I see him everywhere, because he is everywhere."

"Say rather that you see him every time you 遭遇（する） something you cannot explain. Besides, you overlook the fact that the 罪，犯罪 was committed at twenty minutes past eleven in the evening, as is shown by the clock, while the nocturnal visit, について言及するd by the concierge, occurred at three o'clock in the morning."

* * *

Officers of the 法律 frequently form a 迅速な 有罪の判決 as to the 犯罪 of a 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd person, and then distort all その後の 発見s to 適合する to their 設立するd theory. The deplorable antecedents of 勝利者 Danègre, habitual 犯罪の, drunkard and rake, 影響（力）d the 裁判官, and にもかかわらず the fact that nothing new was discovered in corroboration of the 早期に 手がかり（を与える）s, his 公式の／役人 opinion remained 会社／堅い and unshaken. He の近くにd his 調査, and, a few weeks later, the 裁判，公判 開始するd. It 証明するd to be slow and tedious. The 裁判官 was listless, and the public 検察官，検事 現在のd the 事例／患者 in a careless manner. Under those circumstances, Danègre's counsel had an 平易な 仕事. He pointed out the defects and inconsistencies of the 事例／患者 for the 起訴, and argued that the 証拠 was やめる insufficient to 罪人／有罪を宣告する the （刑事）被告. Who had made the 重要な, the 不可欠の 重要な without which Danègre, on leaving the apartment, could not have locked the door behind him? Who had ever seen such a 重要な, and what had become of it? Who had seen the 暗殺者's knife, and where is it now?

"In any event," argued the 囚人's counsel, "the 起訴 must 証明する, beyond any reasonable 疑問, that the 囚人 committed the 殺人. The 起訴 must show that the mysterious individual who entered the house at three o'clock in the morning is not the 有罪の party. To be sure, the clock 示すd eleven o'clock. But what of that? I 競う, that 証明するs nothing. The 暗殺者 could turn the 手渡すs of the clock to any hour he pleased, and thus deceive us in regard to the exact hour of the 罪，犯罪."

勝利者 Danègre was acquitted.

* * *

He left the 刑務所，拘置所 on Friday about dusk in the evening, weak and depressed by his six months' 監禁，拘置. The inquisition, the 孤独, the 裁判，公判, the 審議s of the 陪審／陪審員団, 連合させるd to fill him with a nervous 恐れる. At night, he had been afflicted with terrible nightmares and haunted by weird 見通しs of the scaffold. He was a mental and physical 難破させる.

Under the assumed 指名する of Anatole Dufour, he rented a small room on the 高さs of Montmartre, and lived by doing 半端物 職業s wherever he could find them. He led a pitiful 存在. Three times, he 得るd 正規の／正選手 雇用, only to be 認めるd and then 発射する／解雇するd. いつかs, he had an idea that men were に引き続いて him—探偵，刑事s, no 疑問, who were 捜し出すing to 罠（にかける） and 公然と非難する him. He could almost feel the strong 手渡す of the 法律 clutching him by the collar.

* * *

One evening, as he was eating his dinner at a 隣接地の restaurant, a man entered and took a seat at the same （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. He was a person about forty years of age, and wore a frock-coat of doubtful cleanliness. He ordered soup, vegetables, and a 瓶／封じ込める of ワイン. After he had finished his soup, he turned his 注目する，もくろむs on Danègre, and gazed at him intently. Danègre winced. He was 確かな that this was one of the men who had been に引き続いて him for several weeks. What did he want? Danègre tried to rise, but failed. His 四肢s 辞退するd to support him. The man 注ぐd himself a glass of ワイン, and then filled Danègre's glass. The man raised his glass, and said:

"To your health, 勝利者 Danègre."

勝利者 started in alarm, and stammered:

"I!...I!...no, no...I 断言する to you..."

"You will 断言する what? That you are not yourself? The servant of the countess?"

"What servant? My 指名する is Dufour. Ask the proprietor."

"Yes, Anatole Dufour to the proprietor of this restaurant, but 勝利者 Danègre to the officers of the 法律."

"That's not true! Some one has lied to you."

The newcomer took a card from his pocket and 手渡すd it to 勝利者, who read on it: "Grimaudan, ex-視察官 of the 探偵，刑事 軍隊. 私的な 商売／仕事 transacted." 勝利者 shuddered as he said:

"You are connected with the police?"

"No, not now, but I have a liking for the 商売／仕事 and I continue to work at it in a manner more—profitable. From time to time I strike upon a golden 適切な時期—such as your 事例／患者 現在のs."

"My 事例／患者?"

"Yes, yours. I 保証する you it is a most 約束ing 事件／事情／状勢, 供給するd you are inclined to be reasonable."

"But if I am not reasonable?"

"Oh! my good fellow, you are not in a position to 辞退する me anything I may ask."

"What is it...you want?" stammered 勝利者, fearfully.

"井戸／弁護士席, I will 知らせる you in a few words. I am sent by Mademoiselle de Sinclèves, the heiress of the Countess d'Andillot."

"What for?"

"To 回復する the 黒人／ボイコット pearl."

"黒人／ボイコット pearl?"

"That you stole."

"But I 港／避難所't got it."

"You have it."

"If I had, then I would be the 暗殺者."

"You are the 暗殺者."

Danègre showed a 軍隊d smile.

"Fortunately for me, monsieur, the Assize 法廷，裁判所 was not of your opinion. The 陪審／陪審員団 returned an 全員一致の 判決 of 無罪放免. And when a man has a （疑いを）晴らす 良心 and twelve good men in his 好意—"

The ex-視察官 掴むd him by the arm and said:

"No 罰金 phrases, my boy. Now, listen to me and 重さを計る my words carefully. You will find they are worthy of your consideration. Now, Danègre, three weeks before the 殺人, you abstracted the cook's 重要な to the servants' door, and had a duplicate 重要な made by a locksmith 指名するd Outard, 244 rue Oberkampf."

"It's a 嘘（をつく）—it's a 嘘（をつく）!" growled 勝利者. "No person has seen that 重要な. There is no such 重要な."

"Here it is."

After a silence, Grimaudan continued:

"You killed the countess with a knife 購入（する）d by you at the Bazar de la Republique on the same day as you ordered the duplicate 重要な. It has a triangular blade with a groove running from end to end."

"That is all nonsense. You are 簡単に guessing at something you don't know. No one ever saw the knife."

"Here it is."

勝利者 Danègre recoiled. The ex-視察官 continued:

"There are some 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs of rust upon it. Shall I tell you how they （機の）カム there?"

"井戸／弁護士席!...you have a 重要な and a knife. Who can 証明する that they belong to me?"

"The locksmith, and the clerk from whom you bought the knife. I have already refreshed their memories, and, when you 直面する them, they cannot fail to 認める you."

His speech was 乾燥した，日照りの and hard, with a トン of firmness and precision. Danègre was trembling with 恐れる, and yet he struggled 猛烈に to 持続する an 空気／公表する of 無関心／冷淡.

"Is that all the 証拠 you have?"

"Oh! no, not at all. I have plenty more. For instance, after the 罪，犯罪, you went out the same way you had entered. But, in the centre of the wardrobe-room, 存在 掴むd by some sudden 恐れる, you leaned against the 塀で囲む for support."

"How do you know that? No one could know such a thing," argued the desperate man.

"The police know nothing about it, of course. They never think of lighting a candle and 診察するing the 塀で囲むs. But if they had done so, they would have 設立する on the white plaster a faint red 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, やめる 際立った, however, to trace in it the imprint of your thumb which you had 圧力（をかける）d against the 塀で囲む while it was wet with 血. Now, as you are 井戸／弁護士席 aware, under the Bertillon system, thumb-示すs are one of the 主要な／長／主犯 means of 身元確認，身分証明."

勝利者 Danègre was livid; 広大な／多数の／重要な 減少（する）s of perspiration rolled 負かす／撃墜する his 直面する and fell upon the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. He gazed, with a wild look, at the strange man who had narrated the story of his 罪，犯罪 as faithfully as if he had been an invisible 証言，証人／目撃する to it. 打ち勝つ and 権力のない, 勝利者 屈服するd his 長，率いる. He felt that it was useless to struggle against this marvelous man. So he said:

"How much will you give me, if I give you the pearl?"

"Nothing."

"Oh! you are joking! Or do you mean that I should give you an article 価値（がある） thousands and hundreds of thousands and get nothing in return?"

"You will get your life. Is that nothing?"

The unfortunate man shuddered. Then Grimaudan 追加するd, in a milder トン:

"Come, Danègre, that pearl has no value in your 手渡すs. It is やめる impossible for you to sell it; so what is the use of your keeping it?"

"There are pawnbrokers...and, some day, I will be able to get something for it."

"But that day may be too late."

"Why?"

"Because by that time you may be in the 手渡すs of the police, and, with the 証拠 that I can furnish—the knife, the 重要な, the thumb-示す—what will become of you?"

勝利者 残り／休憩（する）d his 長，率いる on his 手渡すs and 反映するd. He felt that he was lost, irremediably lost, and, at the same time, a sense of weariness and 不景気 overcame him. He murmured, faintly:

"When must I give it to you?"

"To-night—within an hour."

"If I 辞退する?"

"If you 辞退する, I shall 地位，任命する this letter to the Procureur of the 共和国; in which letter Mademoiselle de Sinclèves 公然と非難するs you as the 暗殺者."

Danègre 注ぐd out two glasses of ワイン which he drank in 早い succession, then, rising, said:

"支払う／賃金 the 法案, and let us go. I have had enough of the 悪口を言う／悪態d 事件／事情／状勢."

Night had fallen. The two men walked 負かす／撃墜する the rue Lepic and followed the exterior boulevards in the direction of the Place de l'Etoile. They 追求するd their way in silence; 勝利者 had a stooping carriage and a dejected 直面する. When they reached the Parc Monceau, he said:

"We are 近づく the house."

"Parbleu! You only left the house once, before your 逮捕（する）, and that was to go to the タバコ-shop."

"Here it is," said Danègre, in a dull 発言する／表明する.

They passed along the garden 塀で囲む of the countess' house, and crossed a street on a corner of which stood the タバコ-shop. A few steps その上の on, Danègre stopped; his 四肢s shook beneath him, and he sank to a （法廷の）裁判.

"井戸／弁護士席! what now?" 需要・要求するd his companion.

"It is there."

"Where? Come, now, no nonsense!"

"There—in 前線 of us."

"Where?"

"Between two 覆うing-石／投石するs."

"Which?"

"Look for it."

"Which 石／投石するs?"

勝利者 made no reply.

"Ah; I see!" exclaimed Grimaudan, "you want me to 支払う／賃金 for the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）."

"No...but...I am afraid I will 餓死する to death."

"So! that is why you hesitate. 井戸／弁護士席, I'll not be hard on you. How much do you want?"

"Enough to buy a steerage pass to America."

"All 権利."

"And a hundred フランs to keep me until I get work there."

"You shall have two hundred. Now, speak."

"Count the 覆うing-石／投石するs to the 権利 from the 下水管-穴を開ける. The pearl is between the twelfth and thirteenth."

"In the gutter?"

"Yes, の近くに to the sidewalk."

Grimaudan ちらりと見ることd around to see if anyone were looking. Some tram-cars and 歩行者s were passing. But, bah, they will not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う anything. He opened his pocketknife and thrust it between the twelfth and thirteenth 石／投石するs.

"And if it is not there?" he said to 勝利者.

"It must be there, unless someone saw me stoop 負かす／撃墜する and hide it."

Could it be possible that the 黒人／ボイコット pearl had been cast into the mud and filth of the gutter to be 選ぶd up by the first comer? The 黒人／ボイコット pearl—a fortune!

"How far 負かす／撃墜する?" he asked.

"About ten centimetres."

He dug up the wet earth. The point of his knife struck something. He 大きくするd the 穴を開ける with his finger. Then he abstracted the 黒人／ボイコット pearl from its filthy hiding-place.

"Good! Here are your two hundred フランs. I will send you the ticket for America."

* * *

On the に引き続いて day, this article was published in the "Echo de フラン," and was copied by the 主要な newspapers throughout the world:

"Yesterday, the famous 黒人／ボイコット pearl （機の）カム into the 所有／入手 of Arsène Lupin, who 回復するd it from the 殺害者 of the Countess d'Andillot. In a short time, facsimiles of that precious jewel will be 展示（する）d in London, St. Petersburg, Calcutta, Buenos Ayres and New York.

"Arsène Lupin will be pleased to consider all propositions submitted to him through his スパイ／執行官s."

* * *

"And that is how 罪，犯罪 is always punished and virtue rewarded," said Arsène Lupin, after he had told me the foregoing history of the 黒人／ボイコット pearl.

"And that is how you, under the assumed 指名する of Grimaudan, ex-視察官 of 探偵，刑事s, were chosen by 運命／宿命 to 奪う the 犯罪の of the 利益 of his 罪，犯罪."

"正確に／まさに. And I 自白する that the 事件／事情／状勢 gives me infinite satisfaction and pride. The forty minutes that I passed in the apartment of the Countess d'Andillot, after learning of her death, were the most thrilling and 吸収するing moments of my life. In those forty minutes, 伴う／関わるd as I was in a most dangerous 苦境, I calmly 熟考する／考慮するd the scene of the 殺人 and reached the 結論 that the 罪，犯罪 must have been committed by one of the house servants. I also decided that, ーするために get the pearl, that servant must be 逮捕（する）d, and so I left the wainscoat button; it was necessary, also, for me to 持つ／拘留する some 納得させるing 証拠 of his 犯罪, so I carried away the knife which I 設立する upon the 床に打ち倒す, and the 重要な which I 設立する in the lock. I の近くにd and locked the door, and erased the finger-示すs from the plaster in the wardrobe-closet. In my opinion, that was one of those flashes—"

"Of genius," I said, interrupting.

"Of genius, if you wish. But, I flatter myself, it would not have occurred to the 普通の／平均（する） mortal. To でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる, 即時に, the two elements of the problem—an 逮捕（する） and an 無罪放免; to make use of the formidable 機械／機構 of the 法律 to 鎮圧する and humble my 犠牲者, and 減ずる him to a 条件 in which, when 解放する／自由な, he would be 確かな to 落ちる into the 罠（にかける） I was laying for him!"

"Poor devil—"

"Poor devil, do you say? 勝利者 Danègre, the 暗殺者! He might have descended to the lowest depths of 副／悪徳行為 and 罪，犯罪, if he had 保持するd the 黒人／ボイコット pearl. Now, he lives! Think of that: 勝利者 Danègre is alive!"

"And you have the 黒人／ボイコット pearl."

He took it out of one of the secret pockets of his wallet, 診察するd it, gazed at it tenderly, and caressed it with loving fingers, and sighed, as he said:

"What 冷淡な ロシアの prince, what vain and foolish rajah may some day 所有する this priceless treasure! Or, perhaps, some American millionaire is 運命にあるd to become the owner of this morsel of exquisite beauty that once adorned the fair bosom of Leontine Zalti, the Countess d'Andillot."

9. Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late

"It is really remarkable, Velmont, what a の近くに resemblance you 耐える to Arsène Lupin!"

"How do you know?"

"Oh! like everyone else, from photographs, no two of which are alike, but each of them leaves the impression of a 直面する... something like yours."

Horace Velmont 陳列する，発揮するd some vexation.

"やめる so, my dear Devanne. And, believe me, you are not the first one who has noticed it."

"It is so striking," 固執するd Devanne, "that if you had not been recommended to me by my cousin d'Estevan, and if you were not the celebrated artist whose beautiful 海洋 見解（をとる）s I so admire, I have no 疑問 I should have 警告するd the police of your presence in Dieppe."

This sally was 迎える／歓迎するd with an 爆発 of laughter. The large dining-hall of the Ch穰eau de Thibermesnil 含む／封じ込めるd on this occasion, besides Valmont, the に引き続いて guests: Father Gélis, the parish priest, and a dozen officers whose 連隊s were ４半期/4分の1d in the 周辺 and who had 受託するd the 招待 of the 銀行業者 Georges Devanne and his mother. One of the officers then 発言／述べるd:

"I understand that an exact description of Arsène Lupin has been furnished to all the police along this coast since his daring 偉業／利用する on the Paris-Havre 表明する."

"I suppose so," said Devanne. "That was three months ago; and a week later, I made the 知識 of our friend Velmont at the casino, and, since then, he has 栄誉（を受ける）d me with several visits—an agreeable preamble to a more serious visit that he will 支払う／賃金 me one of these days—or, rather, one of these nights."

This speech evoked another 一連の会議、交渉／完成する of laughter, and the guests then passed into the 古代の "Hall of the Guards," a 広大な room with a high 天井, which 占領するd the entire lower part of the 小旅行する Guillaume—William's Tower—and wherein Georges Devanne had collected the incomparable treasures which the lords of Thibermesnil had 蓄積するd through many centuries. It 含む／封じ込めるd 古代の chests, credences, andirons and chandeliers. The 石／投石する 塀で囲むs were overhung with magnificent tapestries. The 深い embrasures of the four windows were furnished with （法廷の）裁判s, and the Gothic windows were composed of small panes of colored glass 始める，決める in a leaden でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる. Between the door and the window to the left stood an 巨大な bookcase of Renaissance style, on the pediment of which, in letters of gold, was the world "Thibermesnil," and, below it, the proud family 装置: "Fais ce que veulx" (Do what thou wishest). When the guests had lighted their cigars, Devanne 再開するd the conversation.

"And remember, Velmont, you have no time to lose; in fact, to-night is the last chance you will have."

"How so?" asked the painter, who appeared to regard the 事件／事情／状勢 as a joke. Devanne was about to reply, when his mother について言及するd to him to keep silent, but the excitement of the occasion and a 願望（する） to 利益／興味 his guests 勧めるd him to speak.

"Bah!" he murmured. "I can tell it now. It won't do any 害（を与える）."

The guests drew closer, and he 開始するd to speak with the 満足させるd 空気／公表する of a man who has an important 告示 to make.

"To-morrow afternoon at four o'clock, Sherlock Holmes, the famous English 探偵，刑事, for whom such a thing as mystery does not 存在する; Sherlock Holmes, the most remarkable solver of enigmas the world has ever known, that marvelous man who would seem to be the 創造 of a romantic 小説家—Sherlock Holmes will be my guest!"

すぐに, Devanne was the 的 of 非常に／多数の eager questions: "Is Sherlock Holmes really coming?" "Is it so serious as that?" "Is Arsène Lupin really in this 近隣?"

"Arsène Lupin and his 禁止（する）d are not far away. Besides the 強盗 of the Baron Cahorn, he is credited with the 窃盗s at Montigny, Gruchet and Crasville."

"Has he sent you a 警告, as he did to Baron Cahorn?"

"No," replied Devanne, "he can't work the same trick twice."

"What then?"

"I will show you."

He rose, and pointing to a small empty space between the two enormous folios on one of the 棚上げにするs of the bookcase, he said:

"There used to be a 調書をとる／予約する there—a 調書をとる／予約する of the sixteenth century する権利を与えるd 'Chronique de Thibermesnil,' which 含む／封じ込めるd the history of the 城 since its construction by Duke Rollo on the 場所／位置 of a former 封建的 要塞. There were three engraved plates in the 調書をとる／予約する; one of which was a general 見解（をとる） of the whole 広い地所; another, the 計画（する） of the buildings; and the third—I call your attention to it, 特に—the third was the sketch of a subterranean passage, an 入り口 to which is outside the first line of ramparts, while the other end of the passage is here, in this very room. 井戸／弁護士席, that 調書をとる／予約する disappeared a month ago."

"The ジュース!" said Velmont, "that looks bad. But it doesn't seem to be a 十分な 推論する／理由 for sending for Sherlock Holmes."

"Certainly, that was not 十分な in itself, but another 出来事/事件 happened that gives the 見えなくなる of the 調書をとる／予約する a special significance. There was another copy of this 調書をとる／予約する in the 国家の Library at Paris, and the two 調書をとる／予約するs 異なるd in 確かな 詳細（に述べる）s relating to the subterranean passage; for instance, each of them 含む／封じ込めるd 製図／抽選s and annotations, not printed, but written in 署名／調印する and more or いっそう少なく effaced. I knew those facts, and I knew that the exact 場所 of the passage could be 決定するd only by a comparison of the two 調書をとる／予約するs. Now, the day after my 調書をとる／予約する disappeared, the 調書をとる／予約する was called for in the 国家の Library by a reader who carried it away, and no one knows how the 窃盗 was 影響d."

The guests uttered many exclamations of surprise.

"Certainly, the 事件／事情／状勢 looks serious," said one.

"井戸／弁護士席, the police 調査／捜査するd the 事柄, and, as usual, discovered no 手がかり（を与える） whatever."

"They never do, when Arsène Lupin is 関心d in it."

"正確に／まさに; and so I decided to ask the 援助 of Sherlock Holmes, who replied that he was ready and anxious to enter the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）s with Arsène Lupin."

"What glory for Arsène Lupin!" said Velmont. "But if our 国家の どろぼう, as they call him, has no evil designs on your 城, Sherlock Holmes will have his trip in vain."

"There are other things that will 利益／興味 him, such as the 発見 of the subterranean passage."

"But you told us that one end of the passage was outside the ramparts and the other was in this very room!"

"Yes, but in what part of the room? The line which 代表するs the passage on the charts ends here, with a small circle 示すd with the letters 'T.G.,' which no 疑問 stand for '小旅行する Guillaume.' But the tower is 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, and who can tell the exact 位置／汚点／見つけ出す at which the passage touches the tower?"

Devanne lighted a second cigar and 注ぐd himself a glass of Benedictine. His guests 圧力（をかける）d him with questions and he was pleased to 観察する the 利益／興味 that his 発言／述べるs had created. Then he continued:

"The secret is lost. No one knows it. The legend is to the 影響 that the former lords of the 城 transmitted the secret from father to son on their deathbeds, until Geoffroy, the last of the race, was beheaded during the 革命 in his nineteenth year."

"That is over a century ago. Surely, someone has looked for it since that time?"

"Yes, but they failed to find it. After I 購入（する）d the 城, I made a diligent search for it, but without success. You must remember that this tower is surrounded by water and connected with the 城 only by a 橋（渡しをする）; その結果, the passage must be underneath the old moat. The 計画（する） that was in the 調書をとる／予約する in the 国家の Library showed a 一連の stairs with a total of forty-eight steps, which 示すs a depth of more than ten metres. You see, the mystery lies within the 塀で囲むs of this room, and yet I dislike to 涙／ほころび them 負かす／撃墜する."

"Is there nothing to show where it is?"

"Nothing."

"Mon. Devanne, we should turn our attention to the two quotations," 示唆するd Father Gélis.

"Oh!" exclaimed Mon. Devanne, laughing, "our worthy father is fond of reading memoirs and delving into the musty 古記録s of the 城. Everything relating to Thibermesnil 利益／興味s him 大いに. But the quotations that he について言及するs only serve to 複雑にする the mystery. He has read somewhere that two kings of フラン have known the 重要な to the puzzle."

"Two kings of フラン! Who were they?"

"Henry the Fourth and Louis the Sixteenth. And the legend runs like this: On the eve of the 戦う／戦い of Arques, Henry the Fourth spent the night in this 城. At eleven o'clock in the evening, Louise de Tancarville, the prettiest woman in Normandy, was brought into the 城 through the subterranean passage by Duke Edgard, who, at the same time, 知らせるd the king of the secret passage. Afterward, the king confided the secret to his 大臣 Sully, who, in turn, relates the story in his 調書をとる／予約する, '王室のs Economies d'Etat,' without making any comment upon it, but linking with it this 理解できない 宣告，判決: 'Turn one 注目する，もくろむ on the bee that shakes, the other 注目する，もくろむ will lead to God!'"

After a 簡潔な／要約する silence, Velmont laughed and said:

"Certainly, it doesn't throw a dazzling light upon the 支配する."

"No; but Father Gélis （人命などを）奪う，主張するs that Sully 隠すd the 重要な to the mystery in this strange 宣告，判決 ーするために keep the secret from the 長官s to whom he dictated his memoirs."

"That is an ingenious theory," said Velmont.

"Yes, and it may be nothing more; I cannot see that it throws any light on the mysterious riddle."

"And was it also to receive the visit of a lady that Louis the Sixteenth 原因（となる）d the passage to be opened?"

"I don't know," said Mon. Devanne. "All I can say is that the king stopped here one night in 1784, and that the famous アイロンをかける Casket 設立する in the Louvre 含む／封じ込めるd a paper 耐えるing these words in the king's own 令状ing: 'Thibermesnil 3-4-11.'"

Horace Velmont laughed heartily, and exclaimed:

"At last! And now that we have the 魔法 重要な, where is the man who can fit it to the invisible lock?"

"Laugh as much as you please, monsieur," said Father Gèlis, "but I am 確信して the 解答 is 含む／封じ込めるd in those two 宣告，判決s, and some day we will find a man able to 解釈する／通訳する them."

"Sherlock Holmes is the man," said Mon. Devanne, "unless Arsène Lupin gets ahead of him. What is your opinion, Velmont?"

Velmont arose, placed his 手渡す on Devanne's shoulder, and 宣言するd:

"I think that the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） furnished by your 調書をとる／予約する and the 調書をとる／予約する of the 国家の Library was deficient in a very important 詳細（に述べる） which you have now 供給（する）d. I thank you for it."

"What is it?"

"The 行方不明の 重要な. Now that I have it, I can go to work at once," said Velmont.

"Of course; without losing a minute," said Devanne, smiling.

"Not even a second!" replied Velmont. "To-night, before the arrival of Sherlock Holmes, I must plunder your 城."

"You have no time to lose. Oh! by the way, I can 運動 you over this evening."

"To Dieppe?"

"Yes. I am going to 会合，会う Monsieur and Madame d'Androl and a young lady of their 知識 who are to arrive by the midnight train."

Then 演説（する）／住所ing the officers, Devanne 追加するd:

"Gentlemen, I shall 推定する／予想する to see all of you at breakfast to-morrow."

The 招待 was 受託するd. The company 分散させるd, and a few moments later Devanne and Velmont were スピード違反 toward Dieppe in an automobile. Devanne dropped the artist in 前線 of the Casino, and proceeded to the 鉄道 駅／配置する. At twelve o'clock his friends alighted from the train. A half-hour later the automobile was at the 入り口 to the 城. At one o'clock, after a light supper, they retired. The lights were 消滅させるd, and the 城 was enveloped in the 不明瞭 and silence of the night.

* * *

The moon appeared through a 不和 in the clouds, and filled the 製図／抽選-room with its 有望な white light. But only for a moment. Then the moon again retired behind its ethereal draperies, and 不明瞭 and silence 統治するd 最高の. No sound could be heard, save the monotonous ticking of the clock. It struck two, and then continued its endless repetitions of the seconds. Then, three o'clock.

Suddenly, something clicked, like the 開始 and の近くにing of a signal-レコード that 警告するs the passing train. A thin stream of light flashed to every corner of the room, like an arrow that leaves behind it a 追跡する of light. It 発射 前へ／外へ from the central fluting of a column that supported the pediment of the bookcase. It 残り／休憩（する）d for a moment on the パネル盤 opposite like a glittering circle of burnished silver, then flashed in all directions like a 有罪の 注目する，もくろむ that scrutinizes every 影をつくる／尾行する. It disappeared for a short time, but burst 前へ／外へ again as a whole section of the bookcase 回転するd on a pivot and 公表する／暴露するd a large 開始 like a 丸天井.

A man entered, carrying an electric lantern. He was followed by a second man, who carried a coil of rope and さまざまな 道具s. The leader 検査／視察するd the room, listened a moment, and said:

"Call the others."

Then eight men, stout fellows with resolute 直面するs, entered the room, and すぐに 開始するd to 除去する the furnishings. Arsène Lupin passed quickly from one piece of furniture to another, 診察するd each, and, によれば its size or artistic value, he directed his men to take it or leave it. If ordered to be taken, it was carried to the gaping mouth of the tunnel, and ruthlessly thrust into the bowels of the earth. Such was the 運命／宿命 of six armchairs, six small Louis XV 議長，司会を務めるs, a 量 of Aubusson tapestries, some candelabra, 絵s by Fragonard and Nattier, a 破産した／（警察が）手入れする by Houdon, and some statuettes. いつかs, Lupin would ぐずぐず残る before a beautiful chest or a superb picture, and sigh:

"That is too 激しい...too large...what a pity!"

In forty minutes the room was 取り去る／解体するd; and it had been 遂行するd in such an 整然とした manner and with as little noise as if the さまざまな articles had been packed and wadded for the occasion.

Lupin said to the last man who 出発／死d by way of the tunnel:

"You need not come 支援する. You understand, that as soon as the 自動車-先頭 is 負担d, you are to proceed to the grange at Roquefort."

"But you, patron?"

"Leave me the モーター-cycle."

When the man had disappeared, Arsène Lupin 押し進めるd the section of the bookcase 支援する into its place, carefully effaced the traces of the men's footsteps, raised a portiere, and entered a gallery, which was the only means of communication between the tower and the 城. In the 中心 of this gallery there was a glass 閣僚 which had attracted Lupin's attentions. It 含む／封じ込めるd a 価値のある collection of watches, 消す-boxes, （犯罪の）一味s, chatelaines and miniatures of rare and beautiful workmanship. He 軍隊d the lock with a small jimmy, and experienced a 広大な／多数の／重要な 楽しみ in 扱うing those gold and silver ornaments, those exquisite and delicate 作品 of art.

He carried a large linen 捕らえる、獲得する, 特に 用意が出来ている for the 除去 of such knick-knacks. He filled it. Then he filled the pockets of his coat, waistcoat and trousers. And he was just placing over his left arm a number of pearl reticules when he heard a slight sound. He listened. No, he was not deceived. The noise continued. Then he remembered that, at one end of the gallery, there was a stairway 主要な to an unoccupied apartment, but which was probably 占領するd that night by the young lady whom Mon. Devanne had brought from Dieppe with his other 訪問者s.

すぐに he 消滅させるd his lantern, and had scarcely 伸び（る）d the friendly 避難所 of a window-embrasure, when the door at the 最高の，を越す of the stairway was opened and a feeble light illuminated the gallery. He could feel—for, 隠すd by a curtain, he could not see—that a woman was 慎重に descending the upper steps of the stairs. He hoped she would come no closer. Yet, she continued to descend, and even 前進するd some distance into the room. Then she uttered a faint cry. No 疑問 she had discovered the broken and 取り去る／解体するd 閣僚.

She 前進するd again. Now he could smell the perfume, and hear the throbbing of her heart as she drew closer to the window where he was 隠すd. She passed so の近くに that her skirt 小衝突d against the window-curtain, and Lupin felt that she 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd the presence of another, behind her, in the 影をつくる／尾行する, within reach of her 手渡す. He thought: "She is afraid. She will go away." But she did not go. The candle, that she carried in her trembling 手渡す, grew brighter. She turned, hesitated a moment, appeared to listen, then suddenly drew aside the curtain.

They stood 直面する to 直面する. Arsène was astounded. He murmured, involuntarily:

"You—you—mademoiselle."

It was 行方不明になる Nelly. 行方不明になる Nelly! his fellow 乗客 on the transatlantic steamer, who had been the 支配する of his dreams on that memorable voyage, who had been a 証言，証人／目撃する to his 逮捕（する）, and who, rather than betray him, had dropped into the water the kodak in which he had 隠すd the bank-公式文書，認めるs and diamonds. 行方不明になる Nelly! that charming creature, the memory of whose 直面する had いつかs sheered, いつかs saddened the long hours of 監禁，拘置.

It was such an 予期しない 遭遇（する） that brought them 直面する to 直面する in that 城 at that hour of the night, that they could not move, nor utter a word; they were amazed, hypnotized, each at the sudden apparition of the other. Trembling with emotion, 行方不明になる Nelly staggered to a seat. He remained standing in 前線 of her.

徐々に, he realized the 状況／情勢 and conceived the impression he must have produced at that moment with his 武器 laden with knick-knacks, and his pockets and a linen 解雇（する） 洪水ing with plunder. He was 打ち勝つ with 混乱, and he 現実に blushed to find himself in the position of a どろぼう caught in the 行為／法令／行動する. To her, henceforth, he was a どろぼう, a man who puts his 手渡す in another's pocket, who steals into houses and 略奪するs people while they sleep.

A watch fell upon the 床に打ち倒す; then another. These were followed by other articles which slipped from his しっかり掴む one by one. Then, actuated by a sudden 決定／判定勝ち（する）, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his 解雇（する）. He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly's presence, and stepped toward her with the 意向 of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon. The portiere の近くにd behind her. He followed her. She was standing trembling and amazed at the sight of the 荒廃させるd room. He said to her, at once:

"To-morrow, at three o'clock, everything will be returned. The furniture will be brought 支援する."

She made no reply, so he repeated:

"I 約束 it. To-morrow, at three o'clock. Nothing in the world could induce me to break that 約束...To-morrow, at three o'clock."

Then followed a long silence that he dared not break, whilst the agitation of the young girl 原因（となる）d him a feeling of 本物の 悔いる. 静かに, without a word, he turned away, thinking: "I hope she will go away. I can't 耐える her presence." But the young girl suddenly spoke, and stammered:

"Listen...footsteps...I hear some one..."

He looked at her with astonishment. She seemed to be 圧倒するd by the thought of approaching 危険，危なくする.

"I don't hear anything," he said.

"But you must go—you must escape!"

"Why should I go?"

"Because—you must. Oh! do not remain here another minute. Go!"

She ran, quickly, to the door 主要な to the gallery and listened. No, there was no one there. Perhaps the noise was outside. She waited a moment, then returned 安心させるd.

But Arsène Lupin had disappeared.

* * *

As soon as Mon. Devanne was 知らせるd of the 略奪する of his 城, he said to himself: It was Velmont who did it, and Velmont is Arsène Lupin. That theory explained everything, and there was no other plausible explanation. And yet the idea seemed preposterous. It was ridiculous to suppose that Velmont was anyone else than Velmont, the famous artist, and club-fellow of his cousin d'Estevan. So, when the captain of the gendarmes arrived to 調査／捜査する the 事件／事情／状勢, Devanne did not even think of について言及するing his absurd theory.

Throughout the forenoon there was a lively commotion at the 城. The gendarmes, the 地元の police, the 長，指導者 of police from Dieppe, the 村人s, all 循環させるd to and fro in the halls, 診察するing every nook and corner that was open to their 査察. The approach of the 作戦行動ing 軍隊／機動隊s, the 動揺させるing 解雇する／砲火／射撃 of the musketry, 追加するd to the picturesque character of the scene.

The 予選 search furnished no 手がかり（を与える）. Neither the doors nor windows showed any 調印するs of having been 乱すd. その結果, the 除去 of the goods must have been 影響d by means of the secret passage. Yet, there were no 指示，表示する物s of footsteps on the 床に打ち倒す, nor any unusual 示すs upon the 塀で囲むs.

Their 調査s 明らかにする／漏らすd, however, one curious fact that denoted the whimsical character of Arsène Lupin: the famous "Chronique" of the sixteenth century had been 回復するd to its accustomed place in the library and, beside it, there was a 類似の 調書をとる／予約する, which was 非，不，無 other than the 容積／容量 stolen from the 国家の Library.

At eleven o'clock the 軍の officers arrived. Devanne welcomed them with his usual gayety; for, no 事柄 how much chagrin he might を煩う the loss of his artistic treasures, his 広大な／多数の／重要な wealth enabled him to 耐える his loss philosophically. His guests, Monsieur and Madame d'Androl and 行方不明になる Nelly, were introduced; and it was then noticed that one of the 推定する／予想するd guests had not arrived. It was Horace Velmont. Would he come? His absence had awakened the 疑惑s of Mon. Devanne. But at twelve o'clock he arrived. Devanne exclaimed:

"Ah! here you are!"

"Why, am I not punctual?" asked Velmont.

"Yes, and I am surprised that you are...after such a busy night! I suppose you know the news?"

"What news?"

"You have robbed the 城."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Velmont, smiling.

"正確に／まさに as I 予報するd. But, first 護衛する 行方不明になる Underdown to the dining-room. Mademoiselle, 許す me—"

He stopped, as he 発言／述べるd the extreme agitation of the young girl. Then, 解任するing the 出来事/事件, he said:

"Ah! of course, you met Arsène Lupin on the steamer, before his 逮捕（する）, and you are astonished at the resemblance. Is that it?"

She did not reply. Velmont stood before her, smiling. He 屈服するd. She took his proffered arm. He 護衛するd her to her place, and took his seat opposite her. During the breakfast, the conversation 関係のある 排他的に to Arsène Lupin, the 盗品, the secret passage, and Sherlock Holmes. It was only at the の近くに of the repast, when the conversation had drifted to other 支配するs, that Velmont took any part in it. Then he was, by turns, amusing and 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, talkative and pensive. And all his 発言／述べるs seemed to be directed to the young girl. But she, やめる 吸収するd, did not appear to hear them.

Coffee was served on the terrace overlooking the 法廷，裁判所 of 栄誉（を受ける） and the flower garden in 前線 of the 主要な／長／主犯 fa軋de. The regimental 禁止（する）d played on the lawn, and 得点する／非難する／２０s of 兵士s and 小作農民s wandered through the park.

行方不明になる Nelly had not forgotten, for one moment, Lupin's solemn 約束: "To-morrow, at three o'clock, everything will be returned."

At three o'clock! And the 手渡すs of the 広大な／多数の／重要な clock in the 権利 wing of the 城 now 示すd twenty minutes to three. In spite of herself, her 注目する，もくろむs wandered to the clock every minute. She also watched Velmont, who was calmly swinging to and fro in a comfortable 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める.

Ten minutes to three!...Five minutes to three!...Nelly was impatient and anxious. Was it possible that Arsène Lupin would carry out his 約束 at the 任命するd hour, when the 城, the 中庭, and the park were filled with people, and at the very moment when the officers of the 法律 were 追求するing their 調査s? And yet...Arsène Lupin had given her his solemn 約束. "It will be 正確に／まさに as he said," thought she, so 深く，強烈に was she impressed with the 当局, energy and 保証／確信 of that remarkable man. To her, it no longer assumed the form of a 奇蹟, but, on the contrary, a natural 出来事/事件 that must occur in the ordinary course of events. She blushed, and turned her 長，率いる.

Three o'clock! The 広大な／多数の／重要な clock struck slowly: one...two...three...Horace Velmont took out his watch, ちらりと見ることd at the clock, then returned the watch to his pocket. A few seconds passed in silence; and then the （人が）群がる in the 中庭 parted to give passage to two wagons, that had just entered the park-gate, each drawn by two horses. They were army-wagons, such as are used for the transportation of 準備／条項s, テントs, and other necessary 軍の 蓄える／店s. They stopped in 前線 of the main 入り口, and a commissary-sergeant leaped from one of the wagons and 問い合わせd for Mon. Devanne. A moment later, that gentleman 現れるd from the house, descended the steps, and, under the canvas covers of the wagons, beheld his furniture, pictures and ornaments carefully 一括d and arranged.

When questioned, the sergeant produced an order that he had received from the officer of the day. By that order, the second company of the fourth 大隊 were 命令（する）d to proceed to the 十字路／岐路 of Halleux in the forest of Arques, gather up the furniture and other articles deposited there, and 配達する same to Monsieur Georges Devanne, owner of the Thibermesnil 城, at three o'clock. 調印するd: Col. Beauvel.

"At the cross-roads," explained the sergeant, "we 設立する everything ready, lying on the grass, guarded by some passers-by. It seemed very strange, but the order was imperative."

One of the officers 診察するd the 署名. He 宣言するd it a 偽造; but a clever imitation. The wagons were 荷を降ろすd, and the goods 回復するd to their proper places in the 城.

During this commotion, Nelly had remained alone at the extreme end of the terrace, 吸収するd by 混乱させるd and distracted thoughts. Suddenly, she 観察するd Velmont approaching her. She would have 避けるd him, but the balustrade that surrounded the terrace 削減（する） off her 退却／保養地. She was cornered. She could not move. A gleam of 日光, passing through the scant foliage of a bamboo, lighted up her beautiful golden hair. Some one spoke to her in a low 発言する／表明する:

"Have I not kept my 約束?"

Arsène Lupin stood の近くに to her. No one else was 近づく. He repeated, in a 静める, soft 発言する／表明する:

"Have I not kept my 約束?"

He 推定する／予想するd a word of thanks, or at least some slight movement that would betray her 利益／興味 in the fulfillment of his 約束. But she remained silent.

Her scornful 態度 annoyed Arsène Lupin; and he realized the 広大な distance that separated him from 行方不明になる Nelly, now that she had learned the truth. He would 喜んで have 正当化するd himself in her 注目する，もくろむs, or at least pleaded 酌量すべき事情, but he perceived the absurdity and futility of such an 試みる／企てる. Finally, 支配するd by a 殺到するing flood of memories, he murmured:

"Ah! how long ago that was! You remember the long hours on the deck of the 'Provence.' Then, you carried a rose in your 手渡す, a white rose like the one you carry to-day. I asked you for it. You pretended you did not hear me. After you had gone away, I 設立する the rose—forgotten, no 疑問—and I kept it."

She made no reply. She seemed to be far away. He continued:

"In memory of those happy hours, forget what you have learned since. Separate the past from the 現在の. Do not regard me as the man you saw last night, but look at me, if only for a moment, as you did in those far-off days when I was Bernard d'Andrezy, for a short time. Will you, please?"

She raised her 注目する，もくろむs and looked at him as he had requested. Then, without 説 a word, she pointed to a （犯罪の）一味 he was wearing on his forefinger. Only the （犯罪の）一味 was 明白な; but the setting, which was turned toward the palm of his 手渡す, consisted of a magnificent ruby. Arsène Lupin blushed. The （犯罪の）一味 belonged to Georges Devanne. He smiled 激しく, and said:

"You are 権利. Nothing can be changed. Arsène Lupin is now and always will be Arsène Lupin. To you, he cannot be even so much as a memory. 容赦 me...I should have known that any attention I may now 申し込む／申し出 you is 簡単に an 侮辱. 許す me."

He stepped aside, hat in 手渡す. Nelly passed before him. He was inclined to 拘留する her and beseech her forgiveness. But his courage failed, and he contented himself by に引き続いて her with his 注目する，もくろむs, as he had done when she descended the gangway to the pier at New York. She 機動力のある the steps 主要な to the door, and disappeared within the house. He saw her no more.

A cloud obscured the sun. Arsène Lupin stood watching the imprints of her tiny feet in the sand. Suddenly, he gave a start. Upon the box which 含む／封じ込めるd the bamboo, beside which Nelly had been standing, he saw the rose, the white rose which he had 願望（する）d but dared not ask for. Forgotten, no 疑問—it, also! But how—designedly or through distraction? He 掴むd it 熱望して. Some of its petals fell to the ground. He 選ぶd them up, one by one, like precious 遺物s.

"Come!" he said to himself, "I have nothing more to do here. I must think of my safety, before Sherlock Holmes arrives."

* * *

The park was 砂漠d, but some gendarmes were 駅／配置するd at the park-gate. He entered a grove of pine trees, leaped over the 塀で囲む, and, as a short 削減（する） to the 鉄道／強行採決する 駅／配置する, followed a path across the fields. After walking about ten minutes, he arrived at a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where the road grew narrower and ran between two 法外な banks. In this ravine, he met a man traveling in the opposite direction. It was a man about fifty years of age, tall, smooth-shaven, and wearing 着せる／賦与するs of a foreign 削減（する）. He carried a 激しい 茎, and a small satchel was strapped across his shoulder. When they met, the stranger spoke, with a slight English accent:

"Excuse me, monsieur, is this the way to the 城?"

"Yes, monsieur, straight ahead, and turn to the left when you come to the 塀で囲む. They are 推定する／予想するing you."

"Ah!"

"Yes, my friend Devanne told us last night that you were coming, and I am delighted to be the first to welcome you. Sherlock Holmes has no more ardent admirer than...myself."

There was a touch of irony in his 発言する／表明する that he quickly regretted, for Sherlock Holmes scrutinized him from 長，率いる to foot with such a keen, 侵入するing 注目する，もくろむ that Arsène Lupin experienced the sensation of 存在 掴むd, 拘留するd and 登録（する）d by that look more 完全に and 正確に than he had ever been by a camera.

"My 消極的な is taken now," he thought, "and it will be useless to use a disguise with that man. He would look 権利 through it. But, I wonder, has he 認めるd me?"

They 屈服するd to each other as if about to part. But, at that moment, they heard a sound of horses' feet, …を伴ってd by a clinking of steel. It was the gendarmes. The two men were 強いるd to draw 支援する against the 堤防, amongst the 小衝突s, to 避ける the horses. The gendarmes passed by, but, as they followed each other at a かなりの distance, they were several minutes in doing so. And Lupin was thinking:

"It all depends on that question: has he 認めるd me? If so, he will probably take advantage of the 適切な時期. It is a trying 状況／情勢."

When the last horseman had passed, Sherlock Holmes stepped 前へ／外へ and 小衝突d the dust from his 着せる／賦与するs. Then, for a moment, he and Arsène Lupin gazed at each other; and, if a person could have seen them at that moment, it would have been an 利益／興味ing sight, and memorable as the first 会合 of two remarkable men, so strange, so powerfully equipped, both of superior 質, and 運命にあるd by 運命／宿命, through their peculiar せいにするs, to hurl themselves one at the other like two equal 軍隊s that nature …に反対するs, one against the other, in the realms of space.

Then the Englishman said: "Thank you, monsieur."

They parted. Lupin went toward the 鉄道 駅／配置する, and Sherlock Holmes continued on his way to the 城.

The 地元の officers had given up the 調査 after several hours of fruitless 成果／努力s, and the people at the 城 were を待つing the arrival of the English 探偵，刑事 with a lively curiosity. At first sight, they were a little disappointed on account of his commonplace 外見, which 異なるd so 大いに from the pictures they had formed of him in their own minds. He did not in any way 似ている the romantic hero, the mysterious and diabolical personage that the 指名する of Sherlock Holmes had evoked in their imaginations. However, Mon. Devanne exclaimed with much gusto:

"Ah! monsieur, you are here! I am delighted to see you. It is a long-deferred 楽しみ. Really, I scarcely 悔いる what has happened, since it affords me the 適切な時期 to 会合，会う you. But, how did you come?"

"By the train."

"But I sent my automobile to 会合，会う you at the 駅／配置する."

"An 公式の／役人 歓迎会, eh? with music and 花火s! Oh! no, not for me. That is not the way I do 商売／仕事," 不平（をいう）d the Englishman.

This speech disconcerted Devanne, who replied, with a 軍隊d smile:

"Fortunately, the 商売／仕事 has been 大いに 簡単にするd since I wrote to you."

"In what way?"

"The 強盗 took place last night."

"If you had not 発表するd my ーするつもりであるd visit, it is probable the 強盗 would not have been committed last night."

"When, then?"

"To-morrow, or some other day."

"And in that 事例／患者?"

"Lupin would have been 罠にかける," said the 探偵，刑事.

"And my furniture?"

"Would not have been carried away."

"Ah! but my goods are here. They were brought 支援する at three o'clock."

"By Lupin."

"By two army-wagons."

Sherlock Holmes put on his cap and adjusted his satchel. Devanne exclaimed, anxiously:

"But, monsieur, what are you going to do?"

"I am going home."

"Why?"

"Your goods have been returned; Arsène Lupin is far away—there is nothing for me to do."

"Yes, there is. I need your 援助. What happened yesterday, may happen again to-morrow, as we do not know how he entered, or how he escaped, or why, a few hours later, he returned the goods."

"Ah! you don't know—"

The idea of a problem to be solved quickened the 利益／興味 of Sherlock Holmes.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, let us make a search—at once—and alone, if possible."

Devanne understood, and 行為／行うd the Englishman to the salon. In a 乾燥した，日照りの, crisp 発言する／表明する, in 宣告，判決s that seemed to have been 用意が出来ている in 前進する, Holmes asked a number of questions about the events of the 先行する evening, and enquired also 関心ing the guests and the members of the 世帯. Then he 診察するd the two 容積／容量s of the "Chronique," compared the 計画（する）s of the subterranean passage, requested a repetition of the 宣告，判決s discovered by Father Gélis, and then asked:

"Was yesterday the first time you have spoken those two 宣告，判決s to any one?"

"Yes."

"You had never communicated them to Horace Velmont?"

"No."

"井戸／弁護士席, order the automobile. I must leave in an hour."

"In an hour?"

"Yes; within that time, Arsène Lupin solved the problem that you placed before him."

"I...placed before him—"

"Yes, Arsène Lupin or Horace Velmont—same thing."

"I thought so. Ah! the scoundrel!"

"Now, let us see," said Holmes, "last night at ten o'clock, you furnished Lupin with the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that he 欠如（する）d, and that he had been 捜し出すing for many weeks. During the night, he 設立する time to solve the problem, collect his men, and 略奪する the 城. I shall be やめる as expeditious."

He walked from end to end of the room, in 深い thought, then sat 負かす／撃墜する, crossed his long 脚s and の近くにd his 注目する，もくろむs.

Devanne waited, やめる embarrassed. Thought he: "Is the man asleep? Or is he only meditating?" However, he left the room to give some orders, and when he returned he 設立する the 探偵，刑事 on his 膝s scrutinizing the carpet at the foot of the stairs in the gallery.

"What is it?" he enquired.

"Look...there...位置／汚点／見つけ出すs from a candle."

"You are 権利—and やめる fresh."

"And you will also find them at the 最高の，を越す of the stairs, and around the 閣僚 that Arsène Lupin broke into, and from which he took the bibelots that he afterward placed in this armchair."

"What do you 結論する from that?"

"Nothing. These facts would doubtless explain the 原因（となる） for the restitution, but that is a 味方する 問題／発行する that I cannot wait to 調査／捜査する. The main question is the secret passage. First, tell me, is there a chapel some two or three hundred metres from the 城?"

"Yes, a 廃虚d chapel, 含む／封じ込めるing the tomb of Duke Rollo."

"Tell your chauffer to wait for us 近づく that chapel."

"My chauffer hasn't returned. If he had, they would have 知らせるd me. Do you think the secret passage runs to the chapel? What 推論する／理由 have—"

"I would ask you, monsieur," interrupted the 探偵，刑事, "to furnish me with a ladder and a lantern."

"What! do you 要求する a ladder and a lantern?"

"Certainly, or I shouldn't have asked for them."

Devanne, somewhat disconcerted by this 天然のまま logic, rang the bell. The two articles were given with the sternness and precision of 軍の 命令（する）s.

"Place the ladder against the bookcase, to the left of the word Thibermesnil."

Devanne placed the ladder as directed, and the Englishman continued:

"More to the left...to the 権利...There!...Now, climb up... All the letters are in 救済, aren't they?"

"Yes."

"First, turn the letter I one way or the other."

"Which one? There are two of them."

"The first one."

Devanne took 持つ／拘留する of the letter, and exclaimed:

"Ah! yes, it turns toward the 権利. Who told you that?"

Sherlock Holmes did not reply to the question, but continued his directions:

"Now, take the letter B. Move it 支援する and 前へ／外へ as you would a bolt."

Devanne did so, and, to his 広大な／多数の／重要な surprise, it produced a clicking sound.

"やめる 権利," said Holmes. "Now, we will go to the other end of the word Thibermesnil, try the letter I, and see if it will open like a wicket."

With a 確かな degree of solemnity, Devanne 掴むd the letter. It opened, but Devanne fell from the ladder, for the entire section of the bookcase, lying between the first and last letters of the words, turned on a pivot and 公表する／暴露するd the subterranean passage.

Sherlock Holmes said, coolly:

"You are not 傷つける?"

"No, no," said Devanne, as he rose to his feet, "not 傷つける, only bewildered. I can understand now...those letters turn...the secret passage opens..."

"Certainly. Doesn't that agree 正確に／まさに with the 決まり文句／製法 given by Sully? Turn one 注目する，もくろむ on the bee that shakes, the other 注目する，もくろむ will lead to God."

"But Louis the sixteenth?" asked Devanne.

"Louis the sixteenth was a clever locksmith. I have read a 調書をとる／予約する he wrote about combination locks. It was a good idea on the part of the owner of Thibermesnil to show His Majesty a clever bit of 機械装置. As an 援助（する） to his memory, the king wrote: 3-4-11, that is to say, the third, fourth and eleventh letters of the word."

"正確に／まさに. I understand that. It explains how Lupin got out of the room, but it does not explain how he entered. And it is 確かな he （機の）カム from the outside."

Sherlock Holmes lighted his lantern, and stepped into the passage.

"Look! All the 機械装置 is exposed here, like the 作品 of a clock, and the 逆転する 味方する of the letters can be reached. Lupin worked the combination from this 味方する—that is all."

"What proof is there of that?"

"Proof? Why, look at that puddle of oil. Lupin foresaw that the wheels would 要求する oiling."

"Did he know about the other 入り口?"

"同様に as I know it," said Holmes. "Follow me."

"Into that dark passage?"

"Are you afraid?"

"No, but are you sure you can find the way out?"

"With my 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd."

At first, they descended twelve steps, then twelve more, and, さらに先に on, two other flights of twelve steps each. Then they walked through a long passageway, the brick 塀で囲むs of which showed the 示すs of 連続する 復古／返還s, and, in 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs, were dripping with water. The earth, also, was very damp.

"We are passing under the pond," said Devanne, somewhat nervously.

At last, they （機の）カム to a stairway of twelve steps, followed by three others of twelve steps each, which they 機動力のある with difficulty, and then 設立する themselves in a small cavity 削減（する） in the 激しく揺する. They could go no その上の.

"The ジュース!" muttered Holmes, "nothing but 明らかにする 塀で囲むs. This is 刺激するing."

"Let us go 支援する," said Devanne. "I have seen enough to 満足させる me."

But the Englishman raised his 注目する，もくろむ and uttered a sigh of 救済. There, he saw the same 機械装置 and the same word as before. He had 単に to work the three letters. He did so, and a 封鎖する of granite swung out of place. On the other 味方する, this granite 封鎖する formed the tombstone of Duke Rollo, and the word "Thibermesnil" was engraved on it in 救済. Now, they were in the little 廃虚d chapel, and the 探偵，刑事 said:

"The other 注目する，もくろむ leads to God; that means, to the chapel."

"It is marvelous!" exclaimed Devanne, amazed at the clairvoyance and vivacity of the Englishman. "Can it be possible that those few words were 十分な for you?"

"Bah!" 宣言するd Holmes, "they weren't even necessary. In the chart in the 調書をとる／予約する of the 国家の Library, the 製図／抽選 終結させるs at the left, as you know, in a circle, and at the 権利, as you do not know, in a cross. Now, that cross must 言及する to the chapel in which we now stand."

Poor Devanne could not believe his ears. It was all so new, so novel to him. He exclaimed:

"It is incredible, miraculous, and yet of a childish 簡単! How is it that no one has ever solved the mystery?"

"Because no one has ever 部隊d the 必須の elements, that is to say, the two 調書をとる／予約するs and the two 宣告，判決s. No one, but Arsène Lupin and myself."

"But, Father Gélis and I knew all about those things, and, likewise—"

Holmes smiled, and said:

"Monsieur Devanne, everybody cannot solve riddles."

"I have been trying for ten years to 遂行する what you did in ten minutes."

"Bah! I am used to it."

They 現れるd from the chapel, and 設立する an automobile.

"Ah! there's an 自動車 waiting for us."

"Yes, it is 地雷," said Devanne.

"Yours? You said your chauffeur hadn't returned."

They approached the machine, and Mon. Devanne questioned the chauffer:

"Edouard, who gave you orders to come here?"

"Why, it was Monsieur Velmont."

"Mon. Velmont? Did you 会合，会う him?"

"近づく the 鉄道 駅／配置する, and he told me to come to the chapel."

"To come to the chapel! What for?"

"To wait for you, monsieur, and your friend."

Devanne and Holmes 交流d looks, and Mon. Devanne said:

"He knew the mystery would be a simple one for you. It is a delicate compliment."

A smile of satisfaction lighted up the 探偵，刑事's serious features for a moment. The compliment pleased him. He shook his 長，率いる, as he said:

"A clever man! I knew that when I saw him."

"Have you seen him?"

"I met him a short time ago—on my way from the 駅／配置する."

"And you knew it was Horace Velmont—I mean, Arsène Lupin?"

"That is 権利. I wonder how it （機の）カム—No, but I supposed it was—from a 確かな ironical speech he made."

"And you 許すd him to escape?"

"Of course I did. And yet I had everything on my 味方する, such as five gendarmes who passed us."

"Sacrebleu!" cried Devanne. "You should have taken advantage of the 適切な時期."

"Really, monsieur," said the Englishman, haughtily, "when I 遭遇（する） an adversary like Arsène Lupin, I do not take advantage of chance 適切な時期s, I create them."

But time 圧力（をかける）d, and since Lupin had been so 肉親，親類d as to send the automobile, they 解決するd to 利益（をあげる） by it. They seated themselves in the comfortable リムジン; Edouard took his place at the wheel, and away they went toward the 鉄道 駅／配置する. Suddenly, Devanne's 注目する，もくろむs fell upon a small 一括 in one of the pockets of the carriage.

"Ah! what is that? A 一括! Whose is it? Why, it is for you."

"For me?"

"Yes, it is 演説（する）／住所d: Sherlock Holmes, from Arsène Lupin."

The Englishman took the 一括, opened it, and 設立する that it 含む／封じ込めるd a watch.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, with an angry gesture.

"A watch," said Devanne. "How did it come there?"

The 探偵，刑事 did not reply.

"Oh! it is your watch! Arsène Lupin returns your watch! But, in order to return it, he must have taken it. Ah! I see! He took your watch! That is a good one! Sherlock Holmes' watch stolen by Arsène Lupin! Mon Dieu! that is funny! Really...you must excuse me...I can't help it."

He roared with laughter, unable to 支配（する）／統制する himself. After which, he said, in a トン of earnest 有罪の判決:

"A clever man, indeed!"

The Englishman never moved a muscle. On the way to Dieppe, he never spoke a word, but 直す／買収する，八百長をするd his gaze on the 飛行機で行くing landscape. His silence was terrible, unfathomable, more violent than the wildest 激怒（する）. At the 鉄道 駅／配置する, he spoke calmly, but in a 発言する／表明する that impressed one with the 広大な energy and will 力／強力にする of that famous man. He said:

"Yes, he is a clever man, but some day I shall have the 楽しみ of placing on his shoulder the 手渡す I now 申し込む／申し出 to you, Monsieur Devanne. And I believe that Arsène Lupin and Sherlock Holmes will 会合，会う again some day. Yes, the world is too small—we will 会合，会う—we must 会合，会う—and then—"

—The その上の startling and thrilling adventures of Arsène Lupin will be 設立する in the 調書をとる／予約する する権利を与えるd "Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes.—

THE END

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